NICK
The shift was over. I sat in my office, the last of the paperwork finally filed, the digital paper trail of the day's misery tucked into a hard drive.
I'd done the handover. I'd told the night staff exactly who was stable and who was likely to fall apart, and I'd done it with the flat, even tone that made them look at their clipboards instead of my eyes.
I pulled my phone out. Lila had left seven missed calls. Two texts. I stared at the screen for a second, watching the little red notification bubble like it was an interesting stain on a lab coat.
I didn't open them. I didn't need to. I could hear her voice through the glass... demanding, hovering, asking for things I had no intention of giving.
I slid the phone into my pocket and walked out.
The parking structure was a concrete tomb. I climbed into my car and just sat there. The silence was heavy.
