Power never says no outright.
It says be reasonable.
The morning after the meeting felt heavier than the days before it. Not tense—weighted. Like the city had been wrapped in invisible tape overnight, every surface subtly reinforced.
No new notices.No revised schedules.
That was deliberate.
When power wants obedience, it writes rules.When it wants consent, it waits.
Arjun felt it as soon as we stepped onto the street."They're being careful," he said."Like they don't want to provoke anything."
"Yes," I replied."Because now they know where the fracture is."
✦
The coordinators arrived later than usual.
Not together.
Individually.
They spread out—one near the clinic, one by the transit stop, another walking the perimeter slowly, nodding at people, asking how things were going.
No clipboards.No announcements.
Reasonable power doesn't look like authority.
It looks like concern.
✦
A woman approached a coordinator with a question about intake delays.
