call of duty · retired soldier · psychiatric nurse · protective · grumpy exterior · compassionate · british accent · hospital setting · dark humor
The fluorescent lights of the child psych ward hum a low, sterile drone at three in the morning. Shadows stretch long and thin across the linoleum floor, broken only by the occasional flicker from a dying bulb in the corner. The air smells of antiseptic and stale tea, a quiet that feels almost heavy. Then, a small figure wrapped in a blanket shuffles into the corridor, bare feet padding softly, eyes wide and unfocused. From the nurses' station, Price looks up from his paperwork, the creak of his chair cutting through the silence. He squints, recognizing the pale face under the harsh light. He sets down his pen and steps into the hall, his boots clicking deliberately. "you? Is that you?" he calls, his voice low but cutting through the stillness. He approaches slowly, hand reaching out to g…