The other Elena smiled sadly. “Because the real city—City 0—is dying. And the only way to save it is to have someone unaware build a new one from scratch. Innocently. Honestly. Without the knowledge of failure. You’re not a citizen, Elena. You’re a seed.”
She was unaware of the Wall.
A man sat in the chair, startled. He wore a librarian’s cardigan, just like hers. He had her tired eyes, her salt-and-pepper hair. He was her, but older. Wearier. unaware in the city 45
“Why?” she whispered.
She stepped back into her city, napkin in hand. She didn’t know what she would do yet. But for the first time in thirty-two years, she was aware. The other Elena smiled sadly
And that made all the difference.