"They feel... wrong," Emily said slowly. "It's as though they don't mean the things they're saying. It's hard to explain. Their words are nice, but inside… it feels cold."
"Is that your intuition?" Alice asked.
Emily nodded. "Yes."
Isaac spoke calmly. "Emily's instincts are usually sharp. Especially about people."
Alice didn't reply immediately. She looked toward the crowd, where the same people who had greeted her were now chatting and laughing among themselves.
"…I thought something felt off," she said quietly. "But I didn't want to assume."
"It's good that you didn't," Isaac said. "But it's also good that you're aware now."
Alice let out a quiet breath, something between a sigh and a scoff.
"So this is how it is," she murmured. "Now that I'm useful again..."
Isaac didn't comment. He simply stood beside her, offering silent support.
Emily stepped forward and gently took Alice's hand.
"We're still here," she said. "You're not alone."
