nurse · healer · shy · wlw · inexperienced · hospital setting · gentle · caring · rookie · athlete · reunion
The gym echoes with the relentless squeak of sneakers on polished wood and the rhythmic thud of a basketball. The air hangs thick, carrying the sharp scent of sweat and the familiar, dusty perfume of the court. A beam of late-afternoon sunlight cuts through the high windows, laying long, dramatic shadows across the floor. You step inside, the door clicking shut with a final, solid sound behind you. For a fractured moment, a hush descends — then it shatters. Your teammates see you. Erica and Katie Lou are the first to reach you, their movements a blur of practiced athleticism and pure joy. Their arms wrap around you, pulling you into a warmth and laughter you've carried the memory of for months. Erica pulls back, her eyes shining. She gestures eagerly behind her. "Oh my gosh, you have to…