Marcus closed Pages & Pride early. He stood on his stoop, rain soaking his silver hair, and watched as young people gathered, their phones glowing with notifications of protests being organized. “It’s the same playbook,” he said to Kai, who had rushed over. “Different decade, same hate. They’re just using bathrooms instead of water fountains now.”

The news hit the Rainbow Corridor like a thunderclap.

Jayden nodded, looking out at the street where a group of kids, all different flags pinned to their backpacks, were laughing together under a streetlamp. The rain had finally stopped. And in its absence, the Rainbow Corridor glowed.