Read Chapter 30: — SPRING SIGNS

The first daffodils appeared beside the ring road in March.

Ethan noticed them while driving Arthur to chemotherapy.

"Look," he said.

Arthur glanced out.

"Flowers. Historically common in spring."

"You are impossible."

"And alive."

That was true.

Arthur's scan showed his tumour responding to treatment.

Ravensbridge recorded its lowest number of new admissions in weeks.

Shops prepared to reopen with limits. Schools planned phased returns. The train station tested new passenger procedures.

The Ravensbridge Line held its first meeting where nobody was driving anyone.

It happened online.

Mark suggested keeping the group after the emergency for hospital transport, food-bank deliveries and severe-weather support.

Nobody objected.

"Systems survive because boring people do boring things reliably," Jamie said.

Ethan groaned.

"Arthur has infected all of you."