After the vote, the city did not pause.
It adjusted.
That adjustment was subtle enough to evade headlines but visible to anyone who paid attention to patterns rather than moments. Palermo did not fracture. It redistributed its tension, letting it settle into different neighborhoods, different conversations, and different silences.
The revised framework became law with minimal ceremony.
There were no speeches celebrating it. No victory statements. The council released a carefully neutral announcement emphasizing stability, continuity, and responsible governance. The language was almost apologetic.
That alone spoke volumes.
"They are trying to normalize it quickly," Marcelo said during a morning briefing. "The faster it becomes routine, the harder it is to challenge."
"And will it," Luca asked.
Marcelo hesitated. "That depends on how memory holds."
