er disturbed hours of sleep. She grunted, asleep, with eyes still closed, groping for t

yes w

42

Which meant she had only eighteen minutes to dress, gather her things, and find her way to work without Dr. Natha

tap, splashed cold water onto her face, and commenced short but frantic movements with a toothbrush to c

tugging them over her head. Where was her coat? Where was her ID badge? Papers and textbooks were shoved

nation, deciding her sneakers were ac

y is cruel, the kind of heat that clings and suffocates. Barely apt to notice he

snap, she slipped through the b

into traffic. But any glimmer of pity that might have existed in the universe

her foot tapped impatiently on the cab floor. Already, she

Hart said. "Do you think

twisted at

anyone he worked with feel like they could hardly breathe on th

curb of the hospital, Camille handed the d

alls, patients occupied the waiting area, while the few doctors

ials, heart pounding, and made a running start to

sn't s

d authoritative voice cleaved

You'r

the sight of the supervisor by the nurse's station with arms crossed,

who had never once tasted defeat. Dapperly dressed in every way, stylishly compose

steeled

said with unnerving calmness, cloa

llowed.

ly. "That's seventeen past the hour you're meant to

se. Just exhaustion and a nasty habit

she admitted,

if she had personal

ste time." He stepped closer and lowered his voice enough to reach her ear.

ere sharp b

id as she tightened her

ith a long as

he indicated the towering pil

t rounds today. Do

alked away as if he ha

against the urge to mumble somethi

ou

ing close enough to watch it all

friend-a vibrant, sharp-witted blonde with a heart of gold and a terribly

y." Mia folded her arms. "He thinks he

rk hair: "I don't think he sleeps. He just l

do make it easy for hi

t sta

aming cup from the nurse's station. "Though I was planni

he cup full of rich aroma, then

er. "Now go do your rounds before h

ic hallways, checking patients. She was indeed good at

ofessor who loved telling awful jokes, said, "Miss Hart!

even the patients kn

ing his vitals-with irritation from Dr. Carter fad

mine her last patient, however, she froze just

uttered in a

er hands punched h

n Vau

nt, Camille c

emotions that exploded through her body; it simply had to be a coincid

him. It co

ed for the doorknob, her hea

shed it

man lying on the hospita

as h

ri

e she had last seen him. Seven years since he

alive, real, and sittin

ue eyes locking onto hers. And fo

oard in her hands, fighti

that was almost unreadable, and a very

mil