*~~Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Two~~*

{~~Avery Sterling~~}

The next day found me back at the hospital, the sterile scent of antiseptic and the hum of activity swirling around me like a familiar, albeit somewhat overwhelming, embrace. My injuries still stung, a constant, nagging reminder of the chaos that had brought me to this point, but I was feeling better—well enough for the CMO to clear me for duty.

With that clearance, I was officially off paid leave and back on the clock, ready to immerse myself in the work that had always provided me with a sense of purpose, even in the darkest of times. It was strange, the way the hospital felt both like a sanctuary and a battlefield, the place where I found my strength but also where I faced the harshest realities.

By noon, I had already handled eight patients, each one a different story, a different challenge. The steady rhythm of checking vitals, adjusting medications, and offering reassurances brought a sense of normalcy, of control, that I desperately needed. It was a welcome