*Clack.*

The heavy glass door of the hospital swung shut behind me with a dull sound that felt louder in my head than it really was. Cold air hit my face right away—sharp, damp, the kind that sneaks under your collar and makes you hunch your shoulders.

I stepped out onto the wide path in front of the building. The sky looked heavy and grey, like someone had smeared dirty cotton across it. No sun, no blue, just a flat, hazy color that made everything feel smaller.

"It can start snowing at any given point," I muttered to myself, tilting my head back to stare up. The clouds hung so low it looked like I could reach up and touch them.

I shoved both hands deep into my jacket pockets, fingers curling around nothing. My breath came out in small white puffs as I started walking straight ahead, shoes scraping against the rough concrete.

A yellow taxi rolled by slowly. I lifted my hand, gave a quick wave. The car pulled over almost immediately.

I opened the back door and slid inside. The seat was warm from the heater, and it smelled faintly of air freshener—cheap pine mixed with cigarette smoke that wouldn’t quite go away.

"Where to, sir?" the driver asked, glancing at me in the rearview mirror.

"Socials Cafe," I said, voice flat.

He nodded once, flicked the meter on, and eased the car back into traffic.

I leaned my head against the window. The glass was cold against my temple. Outside, the city moved in its usual messy morning chaos—people rushing across zebra crossings, bikes weaving between cars, horns honking every few seconds. It all felt far away, like I was watching it through someone else’s eyes.

*Hope the client leaves before morning,* I thought, staring at the thick grey clouds rolling past. *Aeri will probably wake up by midnight or so... that’s what the doctor said. 18–20 hours. I can make it back by then if this doesn’t drag on.*

The taxi drifted smoothly through the traffic. Red lights, green lights, stop, go. My mind kept jumping back to her face—pale, still, the little plastic clip on her finger measuring her oxygen. I pressed my lips together hard.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Screen was blank. No new messages. No missed calls. Nothing from the hospital. Nothing from anyone.

My thumb hovered over the contacts list. Scrolled down slowly until I saw it:

Elizabeth.

I remembered her voice yesterday day—soft, steady, saying, "Call me whenever you need me, okay? I mean it." I had saved her number in the end, even though I told myself I wouldn’t.

I stared at the name for a long second. My thumb stayed frozen above it.

Then I sighed, locked the screen, and shoved the phone back into my pocket.

The taxi slowed, tires crunching over a small patch of loose gravel.

"Here we are at the Socials Cafe, sir," the driver said, pulling up right in front of the glass entrance. The café sign glowed warm orange against the grey day. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

I nodded. "Thanks."

I handed him the cash, opened the door, and stepped out. The cold hit me again, sharper now. I zipped my jacket up higher, took one last look at the heavy sky.

*Tap. Tap.*

My shoes hit the footpath in steady rhythm as I walked straight ahead, hands shoved deep in my pockets. The grey morning light made everything look flat and washed out. After a few blocks I took a quick right turn into one of the narrow, half-hidden lanes that branched off the main road.

These little side paths were quiet, lined with old brick walls, overflowing trash bins, and the occasional stray cat watching from a ledge. Nobody important ever came through here.

"I can’t let anyone see where I work or how I get there," I muttered under my breath. "That’s why I always get off at Socials Cafe. Even if a taxi driver or someone tries to follow, they’ll lose me the second I turn into these lanes."

I sighed. The cold air turned my breath into a small white cloud that floated in front of my face for a second before disappearing.

The lane twisted once more, then opened up. Right in front of me stood the building—four floors of dark glass and red brick, impossible to miss once you were this close. A huge glossy banner stretched across the second floor:

HEAVEN’S FEEL BROTHEL

Gold letters on black background, lit up even in daylight.

I stopped for a second, staring up at it.

"Here we are... back to work."

I let out a long, slow breath that fogged the air again, then pushed both big double doors open.

A soft, familiar chime rang out the moment I stepped inside—three clear notes that always sounded a little too cheerful for the place.

Warm air and the smell of perfume, cleaning spray, and faint cigarette smoke hit me all at once. The main hall was bright with soft golden lights. Three waitresses in black bunny outfits were moving around—wiping down high tables, arranging bottles behind the bar, fluffing cushions on the curved red sofa that lined the stage area. They were getting everything ready for the night crowd.

One of them—short black hair, red lipstick, ears tilted playfully—looked up first.

"Ohhh, look who’s here after his little vacation," she said, dragging the words out with a big grin.

The other two turned around almost at the same time.

"Morning, Ezra," the second one said. She had long blonde waves and was holding a stack of clean towels.

"Morning, handsome," the third added, winking while she polished a champagne flute.

They’d all been working here as long as I had. We knew each other’s schedules, bad days, favorite drinks, everything. No point pretending.

"Good morning, everyone," I said casually, lifting a hand in a small wave as I walked deeper into the hall.

The first girl—Rina—leaned one hip against a table and put a finger to her glossy lips like she was thinking hard.

"So... how was your little break?" she asked, voice dripping with teasing. "I’m sure you must’ve missed working here. All those lonely nights without us?"

I gave a tired half-smile and shook my head.

"Yeah, I was crying into my pillow every night," I said dryly.

She laughed and tossed the cleaning cloth over her shoulder. "Liar. You probably spent the whole time in bed with some girl."

The other two giggled quietly.

I didn’t answer right away. Just kept walking toward the back hallway that led to the staff rooms and private suites.

"Something like that," I muttered.

Rina called after me, still grinning. "Hey—don’t disappear on us again, okay? Jonathan was about to put up missing posters."

"Yeah, yeah," I said over my shoulder. "I’m here now."