The head nurse, a woman with thirty years of experience, stood at the station, silently sorting through papers. At that moment, an uncertain voice came from behind the door:
— The new one has arrived… from the outpatient clinic.

She slowly raised her eyes and sighed tiredly. New staff in the middle of the night were always a problem. Especially here, in a military hospital, where every mistake could cost someone their life.

Standing in front of her was Anna. Light blond hair pulled into a tight bun, a green uniform hanging loosely, as if it wasn’t her size. Gray eyes — calm, too still, as though she wasn’t looking at the present but straight through it. In the documents, there was a strange gap of almost eight years. A brief explanation: maternity leave and illness. Nothing more.