@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Space+Grotesk:wght@300..700&display=swap');
  :root {
    --cream:#FAF3E3; --bone:#F1E7CE; --paper:#ECE0BE;
    --ink:#1A1612; --ink-soft:#3D342A;
    --mustard:#F5C13D; --coral:#FF6B47; --sage:#8FB89C;
    --sky:#5BA8C9; --plum:#6E3582; --pink:#F26A8D; --olive:#2C2A20;
    --ease:cubic-bezier(0.16,1,0.3,1); --gut:5vw; --max:1020px;
  }
  *,*::before,*::after{margin:0;padding:0;box-sizing:border-box}
  html{scroll-behavior:smooth;scroll-padding-top:5rem}
  html,body{overflow-x:hidden}
  body{background:var(--cream);color:var(--ink);font-family:'Space Grotesk',sans-serif;font-size:18px;line-height:1.7;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;cursor:none}
  ::selection{background:var(--mustard);color:var(--ink)}
  body::after{content:'';position:fixed;inset:0;pointer-events:none;z-index:9999;opacity:0.045;mix-blend-mode:multiply;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg viewBox='0 0 400 400' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%3E%3Cfilter id='n'%3E%3CfeTurbulence type='fractalNoise' baseFrequency='0.85' numOctaves='3' stitchTiles='stitch'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Crect width='100%25' height='100%25' filter='url(%23n)'/%3E%3C/svg%3E")}

  .cursor-dot,.cursor-ring{position:fixed;pointer-events:none;z-index:10000;border-radius:50%;transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}
  .cursor-dot{width:8px;height:8px;background:var(--ink);transition:background .2s var(--ease)}
  .cursor-ring{width:36px;height:36px;border:1.5px solid var(--ink);transition:width .3s var(--ease),height .3s var(--ease),border-color .25s,background .25s}
  .cursor-ring.hover{width:80px;height:80px;background:var(--mustard);border-color:var(--mustard);mix-blend-mode:multiply}
  @media(max-width:900px){body{cursor:default}.cursor-dot,.cursor-ring{display:none}}

  .nav-hamburger{display:none;flex-direction:column;gap:5px;background:none;border:none;padding:0.4rem;cursor:pointer}
  .nav-hamburger span{display:block;width:22px;height:2px;background:var(--cream);border-radius:2px;transition:transform .35s var(--ease),opacity .25s}
  .nav-hamburger.open span:nth-child(1){transform:translateY(7px) rotate(45deg)}
  .nav-hamburger.open span:nth-child(2){opacity:0}
  .nav-hamburger.open span:nth-child(3){transform:translateY(-7px) rotate(-45deg)}
  .nav-mobile-menu{position:fixed;inset:0;background:var(--ink);z-index:190;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:2.5rem;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .35s var(--ease)}
  .nav-mobile-menu.open{opacity:1;pointer-events:all}
  .nav-mobile-menu a{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-size:clamp(2rem,8vw,3.5rem);font-weight:900;color:var(--cream);text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:-0.03em;transition:color .2s}
  .nav-mobile-menu a:hover{color:var(--mustard)}
  @media(max-width:900px){nav{padding:0.7rem 1rem}.nav-links{display:none}.nav-hamburger{display:flex}}

  nav{position:fixed;top:1.5rem;left:1.5rem;right:1.5rem;z-index:200;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;padding:0.85rem 1.5rem;background:var(--ink);color:var(--cream);border-radius:999px;font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.7rem;letter-spacing:0.06em}
  .nav-logo{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:0.6rem;font-weight:500;text-transform:uppercase;text-decoration:none;color:inherit}
  .nav-logo-dot{width:8px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--mustard);animation:pulse 2.4s var(--ease) infinite}
  @keyframes pulse{0%,100%{transform:scale(1);opacity:1}50%{transform:scale(1.6);opacity:.6}}
  .nav-links{display:flex;gap:1.8rem;list-style:none}
  .nav-links a{color:var(--bone);text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase;transition:color .25s var(--ease);cursor:none}
  .nav-links a:hover,.nav-links a.active{color:var(--mustard)}
  .nav-cta{background:var(--mustard);color:var(--ink);padding:0.5rem 1.2rem;border-radius:999px;text-decoration:none;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:500;transition:background .25s var(--ease);cursor:none}
  .nav-cta:hover{background:var(--coral);color:var(--cream)}

  .article-wrap{padding-top:9rem;padding-bottom:6rem}
  .article-inner{max-width:var(--max);margin:0 auto;padding:0 var(--gut)}
  .article-eyebrow{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.72rem;letter-spacing:0.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-soft);margin-bottom:1.8rem;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:1rem;flex-wrap:wrap}
  .article-eyebrow .tag{background:var(--mustard);color:var(--ink);padding:0.2rem 0.7rem;border-radius:999px;font-size:0.68rem;font-weight:500}
  .article-eyebrow .sep{opacity:0.35}
  .article-title{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-weight:900;font-size:clamp(2.6rem,7vw,4.8rem);line-height:0.95;letter-spacing:-0.04em;margin-bottom:1.4rem}
  .article-title em{font-style:italic;font-weight:400;color:var(--coral)}
  .article-subtitle{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-size:clamp(1.15rem,2.2vw,1.5rem);font-style:italic;font-weight:300;color:var(--ink-soft);line-height:1.45;margin-bottom:2.5rem;border-left:3px solid var(--mustard);padding-left:1.2rem}
  .article-rule{border:none;border-top:1.5px solid var(--ink);margin:2.5rem 0;opacity:0.15}
  .article-body{font-size:1.05rem;line-height:1.8;color:var(--ink);font-weight:410}
  .article-body p{margin-bottom:1.6rem;text-align:justify;hyphens:auto}
  .article-body a{color:var(--coral);border-bottom:1px solid var(--mustard);text-decoration:none;transition:color .2s,border-color .2s}
  .article-body a:hover{color:var(--ink);border-color:var(--coral)}
  .article-body a[target="_blank"]{color:var(--plum);border-bottom-color:var(--plum)}
  .article-body a[target="_blank"]:hover{color:var(--ink);border-color:var(--plum)}
  .article-body .opening::first-letter{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-weight:900;font-size:5.2rem;line-height:0.82;float:left;margin-right:0.1em;margin-top:0.05em;color:var(--coral)}
  .article-body h2{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-weight:900;font-size:clamp(1.6rem,3.5vw,2.3rem);line-height:1.05;letter-spacing:-0.02em;margin:3rem 0 1.2rem;padding-top:1.7rem;border-top:1.5px solid rgba(26,22,18,0.14);display:flex;align-items:baseline;gap:0.7rem}
  .article-body h2 .num{font-style:italic;font-weight:400;color:var(--coral);font-size:0.9em}
  .article-img{margin:2.5rem 0;text-align:center}
  .article-img img{width:100%;border-radius:12px;border:1.5px solid var(--ink);display:block}
  .article-img.portrait img{width:auto;max-width:330px;max-height:480px;margin:0 auto}
  .article-img figcaption{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.66rem;letter-spacing:0.06em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-soft);margin-top:0.8rem;opacity:0.7;line-height:1.5}
  .pull-quote{margin:3rem 0;padding:1.8rem 2rem;border-left:4px solid var(--mustard);background:var(--bone);border-radius:0 12px 12px 0}
  .pull-quote p{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-style:italic;font-size:clamp(1.2rem,2.5vw,1.6rem);line-height:1.45;color:var(--ink);margin-bottom:0!important}
  .pull-quote .attr{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.72rem;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-soft);margin-top:0.9rem;display:block;font-style:normal}
  .section-break{display:block;text-align:center;margin:3.5rem 0;color:var(--mustard);font-size:1.2rem;letter-spacing:0.4em;opacity:0.8}
  .article-end{margin-top:4rem;padding-top:2rem;border-top:1.5px solid rgba(26,22,18,0.15)}
  .article-tags{display:flex;gap:0.6rem;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-bottom:2rem}
  .article-tag{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.68rem;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;padding:0.3rem 0.8rem;border:1.5px solid var(--ink);border-radius:999px;color:var(--ink-soft);text-decoration:none;cursor:none;transition:background .2s var(--ease),color .2s var(--ease)}
  .article-tag:hover{background:var(--ink);color:var(--cream)}
  .back-link{display:block;font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.75rem;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-soft);text-decoration:none;cursor:none;transition:color .2s var(--ease);margin-bottom:3rem}
  .back-link:hover{color:var(--coral)}

  .subscribe-section{background:var(--plum);color:var(--cream);padding:5rem var(--gut);margin-top:6rem;position:relative;overflow:hidden}
  .subscribe-inner{max-width:600px;margin:0 auto;text-align:center}
  .subscribe-eyebrow{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.72rem;letter-spacing:0.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--mustard);margin-bottom:1.2rem}
  .subscribe-title{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-weight:900;font-size:clamp(2rem,5vw,3.5rem);line-height:1;letter-spacing:-0.03em;margin-bottom:1rem}
  .subscribe-title em{font-style:italic;font-weight:400;color:var(--mustard)}
  .subscribe-blurb{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-style:italic;font-size:1.15rem;color:var(--bone);margin-bottom:2.5rem;opacity:0.9;line-height:1.5}
  .subscribe-form{display:flex;gap:0.7rem;max-width:460px;margin:0 auto;flex-wrap:wrap}
  .subscribe-input{flex:1;min-width:200px;padding:0.95rem 1.3rem;border-radius:999px;border:none;background:var(--cream);color:var(--ink);font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-size:1rem;outline:none}
  .subscribe-input::placeholder{color:var(--ink);opacity:0.45;font-style:italic}
  .subscribe-input:focus{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px var(--mustard)}
  .subscribe-btn{padding:0.95rem 1.5rem;border-radius:999px;border:none;background:var(--mustard);color:var(--ink);font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.85rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.08em;cursor:none;transition:background .25s var(--ease);font-weight:500}
  .subscribe-btn:hover{background:var(--coral);color:var(--cream)}
  .subscribe-note{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.68rem;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;margin-top:1.4rem;opacity:0.5}
  @media(max-width:600px){.subscribe-form{flex-direction:column}.subscribe-input,.subscribe-btn{width:100%}}

  .read-next{padding:5rem var(--gut);background:var(--bone)}
  .read-next-inner{max-width:900px;margin:0 auto}
  .read-next-label{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.72rem;letter-spacing:0.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-soft);margin-bottom:2.5rem;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:0.6rem}
  .read-next-label::before{content:'';width:28px;height:1px;background:var(--ink-soft);opacity:0.5}
  .read-next-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:2rem}
  .read-next-card{text-decoration:none;color:var(--ink);display:block;cursor:none;transition:transform .35s var(--ease)}
  .read-next-card:hover{transform:translateY(-8px)}
  .read-next-img{aspect-ratio:4/3;border-radius:16px;border:1.5px solid var(--ink);margin-bottom:1rem;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;overflow:hidden;transition:border-radius .35s var(--ease)}
  .read-next-card:hover .read-next-img{border-radius:6px}
  .read-next-img img{width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;display:block}
  .read-next-meta{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.68rem;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink-soft);margin-bottom:0.5rem}
  .read-next-title{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-size:1.2rem;font-weight:700;line-height:1.25}
  @media(max-width:700px){.read-next-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}}

  .strip{background:var(--mustard);padding:5rem var(--gut);position:relative;overflow:hidden;margin-top:6rem}
  .strip-inner{max-width:860px;margin:0 auto;display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:3rem;align-items:center}
  @media(max-width:700px){.strip-inner{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:2rem}}
  .strip-title{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-weight:900;font-size:clamp(2.2rem,5vw,4rem);line-height:0.95;letter-spacing:-0.03em}
  .strip-title em{font-style:italic;font-weight:400;color:var(--plum)}
  .strip-action{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:1.2rem;align-items:flex-start}
  .strip-button{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:0.7rem;background:var(--ink);color:var(--cream);text-decoration:none;padding:1.1rem 2rem;border-radius:999px;font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.85rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.08em;cursor:none;transition:transform .35s var(--ease),background .25s var(--ease)}
  .strip-button:hover{transform:translateX(8px);background:var(--coral)}
  .strip-note{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.72rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.1em;color:var(--ink);opacity:0.55}

  footer{background:var(--ink);color:var(--cream);padding:4rem var(--gut) 2rem}
  .footer-inner{max-width:1280px;margin:0 auto;display:grid;grid-template-columns:2fr 1fr 1fr;gap:3rem;margin-bottom:3rem}
  @media(max-width:700px){.footer-inner{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:2rem}}
  .footer-brand-title{font-family:'Fraunces',serif;font-weight:900;font-size:2.2rem;line-height:1;letter-spacing:-0.04em;margin-bottom:0.8rem}
  .footer-brand-title em{font-style:italic;font-weight:400;color:var(--mustard)}
  .footer-brand p{color:var(--bone);opacity:0.7;font-size:0.92rem;max-width:30ch}
  .footer-col h4{font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.7rem;letter-spacing:0.12em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--mustard);margin-bottom:1rem}
  .footer-col ul{list-style:none;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0.6rem}
  .footer-col a{color:var(--bone);text-decoration:none;font-size:0.9rem;opacity:0.75;transition:color .2s,opacity .2s;cursor:none}
  .footer-col a:hover{color:var(--mustard);opacity:1}
  .footer-bottom{border-top:1px solid rgba(241,231,206,0.15);padding-top:1.4rem;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.68rem;letter-spacing:0.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--bone);opacity:0.5;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem}

  /* ── MOBILE ── */
  @media (max-width: 768px) {
    * { cursor: auto !important; }
    .cursor-dot, .cursor-ring { display: none !important; }
    nav { top: 0.75rem !important; left: 0.75rem !important; right: 0.75rem !important; }
    .nav-cta { display: none !important; }
    .article-wrap { padding-top: 6.5rem !important; padding-bottom: 3rem !important; }
    .article-inner { padding: 0 1.25rem !important; }
    .article-title { font-size: clamp(2rem, 11vw, 3.2rem) !important; line-height: 0.95 !important; }
    .article-subtitle { font-size: 1rem !important; padding-left: 1rem !important; }
    .article-eyebrow { font-size: 0.65rem !important; }
    .article-body { font-size: 1rem !important; line-height: 1.75 !important; }
    .article-body p { text-align: left !important; hyphens: none !important; margin-bottom: 1.3rem !important; }
    .article-body h2 { font-size: 1.5rem !important; }
    .article-body .opening::first-letter { font-size: 3.5rem !important; line-height: 0.82 !important; }
    .article-img { margin: 2rem 0 !important; }
    .article-img.portrait img { max-width: 240px !important; }
    .article-img figcaption { font-size: 0.62rem !important; }
    .pull-quote { margin: 2rem -1.25rem !important; padding: 1.25rem 1.25rem !important; border-radius: 0 !important; }
    .pull-quote p { font-size: clamp(1.1rem, 5vw, 1.4rem) !important; }
    .subscribe-section { padding: 3rem 1.25rem !important; }
    .subscribe-input, .subscribe-btn { width: 100% !important; }
    .subscribe-form { flex-direction: column !important; gap: 0.75rem !important; }
    .subscribe-input { min-height: 52px !important; font-size: 16px !important; }
    .subscribe-btn { min-height: 52px !important; }
    .read-next { padding: 3rem 1.25rem !important; }
    .read-next-inner { padding: 0 !important; }
    .read-next-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr !important; }
    .read-next-card:hover { transform: none !important; }
    .strip { padding: 3rem 1.25rem !important; margin-top: 3rem !important; }
    .strip-inner { grid-template-columns: 1fr !important; gap: 1.5rem !important; }
    .strip-button { width: 100% !important; min-height: 52px !important; justify-content: center !important; }
    footer { padding: 40px 1.25rem 24px !important; }
    .footer-inner { grid-template-columns: 1fr !important; gap: 2rem !important; }
    .footer-bottom { flex-direction: column !important; gap: 0.5rem !important; }
    .back-link { min-height: 44px !important; display: inline-flex !important; align-items: center !important; }
    a, button { -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent !important; }
  }
  @media(prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){*,*::before,*::after{animation-duration:.01ms!important;transition-duration:.01ms!important}html{scroll-behavior:auto}}

  /* ── View counter ── */
  .essay-view-count{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:4px;font-family:'DM Mono',monospace;font-size:0.72rem;letter-spacing:0.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink);opacity:0.6;cursor:default;user-select:none}
  .essay-view-count svg{width:12px;height:12px;stroke:currentColor;fill:none;stroke-width:1.6;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round;flex-shrink:0;opacity:0.6}
  .view-shimmer{display:inline-block;width:22px;height:1.5px;background:var(--ink);opacity:0.2;border-radius:1px;animation:vshimmer 1.1s ease-in-out infinite;vertical-align:middle}
  @keyframes vshimmer{0%,100%{opacity:0.12}50%{opacity:0.28}}