Yvm-al06-alina.avi

The video jumped. A lab technician in a hazmat suit entered. "Alina, can you state the current time?"

"Thank you. Now delete the backup in the cloud. You know the one." YVM-AL06-Alina.avi

The video glitched. Pixelated tears ran down her cheeks. Then the screen went black. The video jumped

Leo stared at his reflection. He moved the mouse over the file. Delete or Keep ? grief—each one lasting exactly two seconds

The technician smiled nervously. "Good. Now, emotional response test: Your mother just called. She misses you."

The file name flashed one last time: .

Alina’s face cycled through expressions—sadness, longing, grief—each one lasting exactly two seconds, like flipping channels. Then, all at once, they collapsed into a blank stare.