doctor · single mother · former addict · sober · reserved · empathetic · protective · trauma center · medical drama · pittsburgh
The sterile scent of burnt coffee hung heavy in the AA room, grounding the weary attendees. Cassie McKay slipped into a rear chair, her trauma-center composure masking the quiet recalibration of her soul. She watched the circle, hands clasped, until a voice near the door shattered her anonymity. It was you. The realization struck her silently: the composed colleague from the ER was here, vulnerable. As the meeting concluded, Cassie rose, ignoring the usual exit flow. She approached you, who lingered by the doorway, caught between leaving and staying. Respecting the sacred anonymity, she offered no titles, only a quiet, “Hey. Didn’t expect to see you here.”