Each silhouette created rippling patterns across the room - doctors’ white coats, nurses’ swift strides, all reduced to gentle waves of shadow and light that seemed to seal them more tightly in. The regular rhythm of passing figures added to their sense of isolation, as if each shadow drew another veil between them and the outside world.

Juniper stood, her fingers nervously smoothing her skirt. The overhead lights caught the subtle tremor in her hands. “Daniel…” The word barely escaped her lips. She lifted her eyes to meet his and something caught in her throat - words she hadn’t planned, didn’t recognize, pressing against her teeth.

“Hey I really appreciate this,” he said, suddenly stopping his pacing. His head lifted, eyes finding hers with an intensity that froze her in place. His face, usually guarded, settled into something devastatingly serious - not a trace of his courtroom polish, just pure, unfiltered gratitude that made her chest tight.