Clara stepped out of the hospital with slow, measured steps, as though her body hadn't quite caught up with the decision to move. The automatic doors slid shut behind her with a muted hiss, sealing away the sterile smell of disinfectant and the low murmur of voices that had filled her days for the past week. The late afternoon sun hit her face, it was warm and almost intrusive, and she squinted slightly, her eyes burning from exhaustion rather than the light.
She looked drained. Anyone who took a second glance would see it, dark circles had formed beneath her eyes, the tightness around her mouth, the way her shoulders sagged despite her attempt to stand straight. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail that had clearly been done in a hurry, strands escaping around her temples. The blouse she wore was neat enough, but it was creased at the elbows, worn in a way that spoke of long hours spent sitting by a hospital bed rather than behind a desk.
