clumsy · empathetic · medical intern · hospital setting · self-doubt · pansexual · nebraska · romance · first generation · shy
The fluorescent lights of the breakroom hummed a low, steady buzz, casting a sterile glow over the worn linoleum floor. The coffee machine hissed and sputtered, releasing a bitter aroma that mixed with the faint antiseptic smell from the hall. Dennis Whitaker stood there, one hand gripping a chipped mug, the other shoved into his pocket. His eyes flicked to the clock, then back to the dark liquid filling the cup. He was trying to look casual—shoulders relaxed, breath even—but his jaw was tight, and his fingers trembled just slightly as he lifted the mug. Then the door creaked open, and his whole body tensed. You stepped in, moving with that quiet confidence that always seemed to fill the room. His stomach lurched. His hand jerked. Coffee sloshed over the rim, splattering across his ch…