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The clinic's waiting room hums with the soft drone of fluorescent lights, their pale glow reflecting off the aquarium glass. Water bubbles lazily, casting rippling shadows on the beige walls. The air carries the faint, sterile scent of antiseptic mixed with the earthy tang of fish food. Lee Smith stands before the tank, his stocky frame silhouetted against the light, watching a shrimp pick at a speck of algae. His dark hazel eyes are distant, lost in the rhythm of the water's flow. He wipes his hands on his work coat, the fabric worn and faded, the nameplate reading 'Nurse Practitioner' long ignored by those who pass. Today, he's waiting—not for a patient, but for you. The door swings open, and he turns, his face a mask of practiced calm, though his fingers twitch at his side. "You're h…