“Go finish your rounds first,” I said quietly. “We can talk later.”
For a moment, he simply looked at me.
Really looked.
At the exhaustion beneath my eyes.
At the emotional wreckage I was trying and failing to hide.
Then his expression softened slightly.
“Alright,” he said finally.
He adjusted the blanket around my legs absentmindedly before stepping back.
A small gesture.
Careful.
Protective.
Like no time had passed at all.
“I’ll come back later.”
After he left, the room stayed silent for exactly three seconds before Lily lunged toward me dramatically.
“WHO was that?!”
I blinked once.
Then laughed despite myself.
“My senior.”
“Senior?” she repeated like the word personally offended her. “That man walked in here looking like a luxury watch commercial with emotional damage
