He sat with his wife’s photo, waiting for a son who had already boarded without him

The system collapse was now a full-blown leadership crisis.

Before I could process it, the phone rang again. This time, a number I did recognize. Adrian.

I answered immediately.

— Back in the States already?

His voice held that effortless calm, the kind that made chaos sound like an optional inconvenience.

— Just landed yesterday. I imagine your inbox continue reading …