Everything was normal. Yet Lila remained locked in that stance. Across the walkway, a family watched curiously. “Is she okay?” the mother asked. “Probably just zoning out,” Maria replied with a practiced smile, though she didn’t believe it. “Elephants have their moods.”
By mid-afternoon, even visitors had begun to notice. A pair of teenagers took videos, whispering things like: “Why is she staring like that?” “Dude, she hasn’t blinked in forever.” Maria tried not to let it get to her, but she caught herself checking the time more often than usual, hoping for any sign that Lila would return to normal.