Meridian died on a Tuesday afternoon, quietly, with Luna's consciousness-presence beside her.
She was one hundred and fifty-two years old, had led bridge children through transformations spanning over a century, and was ready to finish. Her body had been failing for months, bones fragile as glass, organs shutting down one by one. The healers said it was remarkable she'd lasted this long.
"I'm tired," Meridian told Luna during one of their final conversations. She could barely speak above a whisper, her breath rattling in her chest. "So tired, Luna. I've lived a good life. A long one. But I'm done."
"I know," Luna said through Constellation, projecting her presence as strongly as she could so Meridian could feel her nearby. "You've earned your rest."
"Will you stay? Until the end? I don
