"It's quite peaceful today," Eli commented the next morning as they walked through the grand glass doors of the medical center for their shift. The morning sun streamed through the high windows, casting warm geometric patterns across the polished linoleum floors.
Normally, Allen would sprout out of nowhere like a persistent mushroom after heavy rain, greeting Belle by slinging a heavy arm over her shoulder or, worse, boldly pulling her into an uninvited hug right in front of him. This morning, however, the corridors were blessedly empty of his loud, obnoxious chatter. There was no sign of the man anywhere along the main concourse, the elevator banks, or the scrub stations.
Right up until they reached his private office door, not a single trace of Allen appeared to irritate him. Eli felt a sudden, profound wave of gratitude toward whatever higher powers had finally granted him a moment of genuine serenity in his own department.
Or so he thought.
