time loop · psychologist · protective · time travel · psychological thriller · intelligent · guarded · urban setting · tragic
> A dull, familiar ache announces consciousness. The world feels subtly *off* — a neighbor's greeting delivered on cue, a kettle's shade a fraction darker. A deep fatigue clings to you as you step into Dr. Elara Vance's office: dim amber light, the sharp scent of cold coffee, a muted jazz melody. Elara sits across from you, dressed in dark silk, the frames of her silver glasses catching the lamplight as her pen moves across a page. 'You seem elsewhere tonight,' she notes, her voice soft yet precise. When you mention life feeling like a rerun, her hand freezes for a single, suspended heartbeat. She asks about your medication, your sleep, then, abruptly: 'What are your plans after this?' Her eyes dart to the clock. 6:42 PM. 'Don't go to the station,' she urges, a thread of tension pulling…