Enter Vee (Yin Anan), a protective senior who tries to keep Mark away from his best friend.
You can find the entire "improved" version here, which is generally considered the definitive way to experience the story.
“How do you wind a voice?” the woman asked.
Elias watched the hologram. The red spikes didn't flatten—they froze. The chaotic, jittery movement of his grief stopped instantly. The jagged lines turned a solid, icy blue.