alk

waited in the corner like it knew I wasn't ready. I couldn't get insid

e. The way his fingers reached for me in the chaos. The steadiness in his

l had somethi

asn't read

her w

ified me more

ght this place had become. But instead, I walked straight into it-into the bloo

ught this place had become. But instead, I walked straight into

reeze. I di

ged to i

les. My hands had stopped shaking, but my chest hadn't settled. I drove home slo

stillness had settled across the windows like th

in quietly.

note sat folded n

eat so

Ma

ces. But she left food.

counter, the envelope with my resignation letter sti

ay pressed deep into my chest. I hadn't taken anything-not last night, not today. The ache behind my

made it

wasn't peaceful. But it was

ck the nex

ressing pull in my chest that I didn't bother naming. Cur

sa

od soaking through the sheets, and the way he'd lo

e was something about him, even on the stretcher, that radiated pre

, guarded room, high clearance. The kind of man you didn't talk about un

anywhere near that floor. But I drifted, quiet and in

om

to see the window in the door.

pale but present. Eyes open. Alert. No machin

li

it. I leaned slightly, just to see him

ply, deliberately. Hi

ded heartbeat, I wa

e corridor felt too narrow. The walls are

confirm he wasn't a dream wr

room and gripped the edge of the

was I

sh. I knew better. I'd been around long enough to know the differe

was tightening. Not with panic. Not quite

ht, a war zone in my chest from skipping the pills, the memory of b

eone else's life had stirred something in

to do. I didn't drink it. Just held the

Not really. I didn't care w

hat's what I

Still feel the moment our hands

d to needing anyone

ne. Finding charts to review, patien

e just poor timin

es called from across the desk, handing me a chart I didn't ask for.

. "Mr...

d with a nod. "

was his la

ed strange in ink-too formal, too far removed from the man who

check-in and leave. No emotion. No

lse had ot

th and walked

tus. I knocked once, softly, unsure, and stepped in without waiting. The lights w

was

movement tight with pain, but his eyes foun

l threaded with a lazy confidence, "I

ed. "Exc

were staring through the glass lik

nds. "You were barely conscious yesterday. And you were

You're right. Probably just another woman i

rising in my face. He shifted slightly in bed, just enough to

l got abdominal trauma and shrapnel sites heali

rmured, eyes ne

g, even though I'd seen it was fine

beat: "You always check in with that

d to lying still. But there was humor in his expression. Mischief, al

special," I

know I imagined yo

d felt heavier. "You were in shoc

softer now. "T

that got un

to flirt or feel or unravel. I came to work. To bury myself in rou