Everyone heard Mara.

Jonah was chairing his first large student-council project: Wellbeing Week. The schedule had to reach the supervising teacher by four. Posters were designed, volunteers assigned, and the lunchtime assembly had already been rehearsed.

Mara waited until the bright notes stopped moving across the board.

“Could we replace one assembly with a quiet lunch room? Some students avoid the dining hall because it gets overwhelming. We could try it for two days.”

The suggestion required a room, supervision, and the removal of something already prepared. Jonah thanked her. Eleven humans nodded. Several faces were kind. No one appeared angry.

But Zee felt urgency moving around Jonah like a fast crosswind. Mara’s hope lifted with every nod and returned slightly heavier. Above the table, everyone’s wish to remain kind gathered into a pale fog.

Leila, sitting opposite Mara, noticed her close the notebook. She almost raised her hand. Almost was socially quieter.

Zee asks: “Did Mara contribute to the decision, or decorate it?”