Enzo's POV
The final hours of the shift stretched long and slow, like molasses dripping through the cracks of a tired clock. Everything around me still buzzed with urgency, but my body was beginning to feel the weight of every minute spent upright. My back was sore, and the ache in my feet had crept up to my calves, but I didn't have the luxury of stopping not while there were still patients to monitor, reports to file, and beds to prepare for new admissions.
After handing over the second appendectomy patient to recovery, I took a detour to the utility room, replacing my gloves and scrubs with a fresh set. The fabric clung damply to my skin, but it was better than staying in the bloodstained set I'd been wearing since early morning. I passed a mirror in the corner my hair was messier than I liked, and dark circles had carved their place under my eyes. I blinked at myself once, then looked away. There was no time to fix anything.
