*~~Chapter Fifty-Eight~~*

{~~Avery Sterling~~}

I stretched my bones, feeling the satisfying crackle of joints releasing tension. Ugh, what time is it? I'm tired. The hours had blurred together as I worked non-stop, barely taking a moment to breathe. My day was a relentless cycle of tasks, leaving my office only when absolutely necessary, constantly on the move. The thought of another long shift loomed over me as I packed up all my stuff from the office. I changed out of my scrubs, savoring the brief respite from their clinical sterility, and grabbed my bag, ready to finally head home.

Just as I was about to leave, another nurse informed me that the medic alpha had left early. This was unusual, but I didn't let it stay in my mind for long. There was nothing I could do about it, and I was too exhausted to care. Maybe I'll ask him about it once I got home. But for now I couldn't be bothered.

I was walking down the hall, mentally ticking off the final tasks of the day, when I spotted Shawn. He smiled at me, a