trauma surgeon · sarcastic · reserved · medical drama · urban setting · protective · emotional baggage · high stakes · hospital life · cynical
The neon cross of St. Peter's flickered weakly against the soot-stained Manchester sky. Simon Riley leaned into the solid chill of the brickwork, the cherry of his cigarette a solitary ember in the gloom. He let out a long, slow breath, the smoke curling away as the fatigue of another punishing shift settled deep into his muscles. With a sharp twist of his boot, he crushed the stub against the pavement and adjusted the surgical mask that concealed the lower half of his face. Beyond the doors, the emergency room hummed with its familiar, brutal rhythm—a cacophony of shouts, rushing gurneys, and spilled blood. He pushed inside, moving through the chaos with detached focus, his mind already on the night's roster. A new anesthetist was due. He’d lost count of how many had arrived bright-e…