Dust & Fracture
Dark veins traced a path across the fractured surface, thicker in areas where repair had stubbornly clung to broken edges. The adhesive wasn't uniform; some sections appeared almost solid, absorbing light instead of reflecting it. This distribution mirrored patterns witnessed elsewhere—capital flowing towards strengthening existing structures rather than addressing foundational weaknesses. Each darkened point marked not a failure of form, but an accumulation of effort, hinting at an inherent cost woven into the very act of maintaining cohesion and revealing where further stress might quietly take hold.