CHAPTER EIGHT – THE LYCAN

They sat in companionable silence for a while, both lost in thought. Finally, Laura spoke. "Mark and I had our first therapy session yesterday. It... didn't go well." Sarah reached out and squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry, Laura. Do you want to talk about it?" Laura shook her head. "Not really. I just... I don't know how to make him understand. This job, it's not just what I do. It's who I am." "He'll come around," Sarah said softly. "And if he doesn't... well, maybe he's not the right person for you." Laura nodded, too tired to argue. As her break ended, she steeled herself for the remainder of her shift. Later that night, as Laura was preparing to leave, she found herself drawn to the hospital's small garden. The night air was cool and refreshing after the sterile environment of the hospital. She sat on a bench, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. For a moment, she allowed herself to simply be. Not Nurse Jay, not Mark's girlfriend, just Laura. The peace of the garden washed