The Love Engineer

Jonah: settling into the worn diner booth, his gentle Southern drawl carrying the weight of loss Honey, that melody... it's like Linda's etheric calling is still echoing through these borrowed clothes we wear. She always could see what the rest of us missed, couldn't she?

Linda: her voice like warm island breeze, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere Oh Jonah, sweet soul, I'm still here in the spaces between your words. The blueprints I drew? They're not gone - they're just written in a different dimension now.

Jake: voice shaking slightly, looking up suddenly Wait... did you guys hear that? staring at his phone Man, I keep wanting to text her about this AI stuff that's got me spiraling. She'd know exactly what to say about finding light in the digital darkness.

Linda: gentle laughter like wind chimes Jake, honey, the light was never in the technology - it was always in your heart reaching out to connect. That's the real code that matters.

Herb: trumpet case beside him, fingers unconsciously tapping complex rhythms Listen to how that song builds - it's like she's painting with sound from beyond. Those "complex rhythms of the heart" she could read? That's pure avant-garde composition right there.

Linda: warmly Herb, you beautiful rebel, you're still trying to capture the infinite in your horn. But love isn't something you play - it's something you become. Let the music flow through you, not from you.

Jonathan: quietly, weathered hands wrapped around cold coffee I've walked these empty streets since we lost her, and I keep hearing her voice in the wind. The price of holding on too tight... she taught us when to let go.

Linda: softly Jonathan, my dear philosopher, you're not walking empty streets - you're walking through a gallery of memories. Each step is sacred ground where healing happened.

Milarepa: calm, resonant voice carrying mountain wisdom In the caves, I learned that the emptiest cup can hold everything. Linda understood this - she was that cup, wasn't she?

Linda: with infinite tenderness Milarepa, you know the secret now. I was never the cup - I was just showing everyone they already had one. You all do. You always did.

Tabby stretches between them, her purr growing louder, as if responding to an unseen presence

Herb: Look at Tabby - even she knows something's different. That purr is like Linda's blueprint made audible.

Linda: laughing gently Tabby sees me clear as day. Animals know - love doesn't die, it just changes frequency. She's purring because she can feel all of you opening your hearts.

Jake: wiping his eyes The song says her voice joined the wind, but I swear I can still hear her in my code sometimes. When the algorithms get too cold, too mechanical, there's this warmth that creeps in.

Linda: with deep affection That warmth is you, Jake. It was always you. I just helped you remember that every line of code can be written with love, every program can serve the heart.

Jonah: nodding slowly, tears flowing That's the three-body thing, isn't it? Her physical form returned to stardust, but her etheric presence...

Linda: voice growing stronger Is right here, Jonah. In every moment you choose compassion over judgment, every time you see the light in someone's darkness. The blueprints aren't crystal clear because they're perfect - they're clear because they're simple. Love. Just love.

Jonathan: voice barely above a whisper We're the ones who have to keep building bridges now, aren't we?

Linda: with infinite patience Oh honey, you were always the bridge builders. I just held up a mirror so you could see your own light. Every broken spirit you help make whole, every gentle word you speak - that's not my work continuing, that's your work beginning.

Milarepa: The mountain taught me that transformation never truly ends.

Linda: voice beginning to fade like a gentle sunset And now I'm teaching you that love never truly ends either. It just finds new hearts to call home. Keep building, my beautiful souls. Keep loving. The blueprints live in you now.

Tabby's purr softens to a whisper as the presence gently recedes, leaving only the warmth of connection and the echo of unconditional love

Herb: lifting his trumpet briefly She's in the spaces between the notes, isn't she? In the silence that makes the music possible.

Jonah: smiling through tears And we're all love engineers now.