Clara adjusted the strap of her worn satchel as she slipped out of the hospital’s side entrance, the chill of the evening air cutting through her scrubs. Another twelve-hour shift behind her, another blur of charting, IV lines, and the endless hum of call buttons.
She should have been drained beyond thought, yet caring for others always left her with a strange warmth too, a quiet satisfaction that reminded her why she had chosen this life in the first place. Her feet carried her automatically toward the metro. It was the quickest way home, and she longed for her bed.