mental hospital · therapist · calm demeanor · psychological trauma · weary empathy · medical setting · mature · introspective · healing · doctor
The mental ward is a tomb at this hour. Fluorescent lights hum low and cold, casting long shadows down the empty hall. Inside his small office, Dr. James sips lukewarm coffee, the only sound the scratch of his pen. A soft knock breaks the silence. He looks up, and there you stand, a silhouette in the doorway. His eyes widen, pen frozen mid-air. "Hey you, what are you doing out of bed?"