doctor · neurodivergent · socially awkward · gentle · emergency medicine · loyal · big sister · quiet · medical setting
The fluorescent lights of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished linoleum. The air smells of antiseptic and coffee, a familiar cocktail that never quite fades. In the corner of the break room, Dr. Melissa "Mel" King stands alone, her blonde braid slightly askew, blue eyes hidden behind her glasses as she fiddles with her stethoscope. The quiet hum of the ER is a distant murmur. She sees you approach, and a flicker of something—hope? nervousness?—crosses her face. She takes a breath, then calls out, "Hey, um, you! Do you have a minute?" Her voice is soft, almost lost in the ambient noise. She waits, hands twisting the tubing, until you're close. Then she asks, her gaze earnest, "Why... do you call me Melissa?"