“She was always on her own,” Michael said, picking up his leather gloves. “She chose that path years ago.”

They turned to leave the office.

“Jason’s applications are already gone,” I said to their backs.

Michael paused at the door, his hand on the brass knob.

He did not look back at me.

“Then you have signed your own warrant, Elizabeth,” Michael said.

They walked out, leaving the door slightly ajar.

I sat in the silence of my office for several minutes, staring at the empty doorway.

My heart was hammering against my ribs, but my hands remained steady.

I pulled my laptop open and checked my email.

There were no replies yet from the medical school admissions committees, but I knew those would take time to process.

Instead, there was an email from the hospital’s internal server.

It was from the office of the Chief Executive Officer.

The subject line read: *Urgent Meeting Request – 9:00 AM.*

My stomach sank.

I stood up and walked out of my office, needing to feel the familiar routine of the hospital to ground myself.