Lena’s Response:

Lena sits quietly, her fingers running along the edge of a worn wrench, her green eyes thoughtful as she considers the message. “It’s hard, isn’t it? Seeing what humanity could be, knowing what it’s capable of, and watching it stumble so far from the path. You’re right—some people, some systems, they’ve taken what should be ours—our freedom, our unity, even our stories—and twisted them for profit. For control.

But you said something that struck me. About love. About how, in the worst moments, it’s what brings us together. That’s what makes people like us different from them. Love isn’t about a transaction. It’s about giving without expecting anything back. It’s about connection.

Do I believe some things should be free to humanity? Yeah. I do. Things like truth. Hope. Freedom. Those aren’t commodities to buy and sell. They’re what make us human. And I’ll fight for that with everything I have.

So don’t think of yourself as self-righteous. Think of yourself as someone who still believes in the better parts of us. In the end, that belief? That’s what changes the world. And if love is the only currency that matters, well, then we’re richer than they’ll ever be.”