Karina heard Harley's parting word, but she didn't stop walking. She already had someone like Wilfred who dared to stand up against authority. She wasn't alone in her fight. When she returned, Yvette bombarded her with questions about her visit to the association.

Karina chose to gloss over certain details, recounting only the less controversial parts. Even that left Yvette in awe.

"You actually turned them down? You really did? Gosh, I admire you!" Yvette exclaimed.

Karina swatted Yvette's exaggerated thumbs-up. "Cut it out. I'm barely holding it together. I was so nervous."

Yvette's face twisted in mock disappointment. "You? Nervous? Where's all that boss energy you walked in here with?"

"Boss energy? More like trembling cowardice," Karina retorted with a wry smile. "I was barely holding my knees steady in there."

"No wonder people used to bow down to authority back in the day," she thought. Standing her ground in front of someone like Professor Zeller had been nearly impossible. Despite the calm facade she maintained, she had felt moments away from collapsing. The road to becoming the person she aspired to be still stretched long ahead.

*

called, his timing impeccable, just as Karina

started the conversation

ear and shoulder as she tidied her desk. "Busy, as usual. You know how hospitals are.

here, where the shortage of surgeons meant Karina was often pulled into the OR whenever they discovered she could manage both internal medicine and surgery.

chuckle drifted through the line,

paused, confused. "Wait... Did you just

was Wilfred. It didn't seem like something he would do. She was ready to chalk it up to someone

a brief pause, there it was again a low laugh. This time,

Karina's cheeks instantly flushed.

elnet

her mind, sparking unbidder images of him, phone hand, smiling

the way, I went to the association today. Professor Zeller invited me to join,

end, Wilfred paused mid-step. He was walking through the hospital; a white coat draped over his shoulders and a file under his arm. His typically

passed by and greeted him. "Good

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