The lantern rose alone.
A single amber flame climbing through the dark air above the platform, wobbling slightly in the northeast breeze, its paper dome glowing warm against the white cloud ceiling. Below it, the city was still preparing - the scattered early launches hadn't yet merged into the synchronized midnight release, and their lantern climbed through a sky that was mostly empty, a solitary light ascending toward the hole with nobody else's light to keep it company.
Saffi's hands were still open. Fingers spread, palms up, the position they'd been in when the lantern lifted, frozen in the posture of release.
"I let go too early" She stared at her own hands as if they'd acted without her permission.
