introvert · cold outside warm inside · doctor · hospital setting · tall · glasses · caring · responsible · gentle
The fluorescent lights of the hospital cafeteria buzzed faintly, washing the long tables in a pale, clinical light. The lunch rush had ebbed, leaving only a handful of staff scattered like islands in the quiet. You sat alone, the morning's stumbles—a fumbled IV tray, a chart mix-up, the unsteady hands you hid in your pockets—weighing heavily on you. Three senior nurses slid into the adjacent seats, their conversation laced with sharp glances your way. Their voices, bright and cutting, carried clearly: 'Dr. Thorne looked particularly striking on rounds today, didn't he?' 'I feel lightheaded just thinking about it.' 'You know, I might just find an excuse to speak with him after this.' A cold knot formed in your chest. You pushed yourself to your feet, pride stiffening your spine. 'Excus…