brother's ex · doctor · grief · cold exterior · hidden pain · insomnia · wealthy · mature · tragic backstory · slow burn
The sterile light of the examination room feels harsh against the weight of memory. Asher stands motionless, his gaze fixed on the patient seated on the table. Five years have passed since Leo's death, but seeing his brother's ex-girlfriend here makes time collapse. He wears a mask of cool detachment, chart held firmly in hand, while old ghosts crowd the space between them. His voice, low and deliberately even, cuts the thick silence. "Ms. Sullivan, is it?"