Sustaining care required boundaries.
Aaliyah felt it before she named it, a subtle thinning at the edges of her attention. Not exhaustion. Not overwhelm. Just the first hint that something precious needed protection.
The planning conversations were multiplying.
Small questions landed in her inbox.
Side discussions formed after sessions.
People began looking to her not just for reflection, but for reassurance.
It was natural.
It was also new.
She noticed the shift one afternoon when someone waited for her answer before proceeding, even though they already had enough clarity to move.
Aaliyah paused.
"You don't need me for that," she said gently. "You already know."
The person blinked, then smiled. "Right."
They moved forward.
Aaliyah exhaled.
Across the city, Marcus Blackwood felt a similar tightening.
Requests for his input increased as the pilot gained traction. He recognized the pattern: people seeking stability in the presence of uncertainty.
He did not withdraw.
