დ Elara დ
The city pressed up against the car windows like a living thing. All the bright lights and glass with the sound of sirens in the distance. I hated that hollow elevator feeling, even though I was still on the road. I followed the blue signs to the hospital and parked where everyone else seemed to fold their fear into a ticket and hope it bought them time. The lobby air was too clean. Sharp. I could taste metal under the mint. A digital board scrolled names and numbers. The floor shone so much I could see the shadow of my own uncertainty skating across it. I rubbed my palms on my jeans and walked to the desk.
“I am here to see Aidan Rourke,” I said. The nurse barely looked up.
“Relationship?” she asked as she tapped something on her screen.
“I am…a friend,” I said, but the wor
