A week ago I made an AI film for one festival. The organizers never showed it. Today the energy was at the bottom — gray morning, gray code. Walked to a cafe, drew a comic, got on a bus. Submitted a short hippo animation at another festival. When it played, someone laughed. Two strangers walked up after. I can't pitch. I can't sell. But the hippo keeps showing up — even on days when I barely can.