So she does not tell.

Not only because she is afraid, but because she has done the grim math and concluded that there is no one left who will believe her.

That is why I did not go to a teacher.

That is why I built a case instead of asking for help.

I had understood, without being able to name it, that Roland had already spent my credibility, that my word was worthless before I ever spoke it, and that the only thing left that could not be discredited in advance was evidence a machine had gathered on its own.

The well was poisoned.