njroewrites
In a realm where human nervous systems extend beyond the body as invisible "plumes", most people move through life unaware of how deeply they spill into one another. Only Lucy, hyper-attuned, can perceive the constant exchange of emotional force fields that shape every interaction, from fleeting contact to crowded silence. While others remain blind to their impact, Lucy must navigate a city where dysregulation becomes physical intrusion and even brief proximity can overwhelm the body, leaving her to confront what it means to stay intact.
As she travels through spaces saturated with unspoken entanglements, Lucy learns that connection is not inherently safe, and distance is not always protection. But when she begins to notice patterns others ignore, she is forced to confront a disturbing possibility: the world isn't simply unregulated, it is built on collective denial of what it truly means to touch another mind, and Lucy alone may have to face that truth.