He walks as though the floor might shift,
not from fear,
but from learning the weight of each new step.

A face assembled from borrowed futures,
caught in the glow of laboratory lamps
that promise more than they can hold.

The maker watches,
hands still warm from the work,
unsure whether to greet or retreat.

Outside, the night presses close.
Inside, a figure studies the room,
testing the air,
finding a way to stand without apology.

No verdict is offered.
Only the quiet fact of two figures
sharing a space neither expected to keep.
 

.