The Cost of a Cure

Clara’s eyes remained locked on the brushed steel doors long after they had sealed shut. A nagging suspicion clawed at the back of her brain, refusing to let go. The brief glimpse of the boy in the elevator played on a relentless loop in her mind. It wasn't just his rushed behavior or the way he kept his head bowed to avoid her gaze. It was the clothing. Her mind cataloged the fabric, the precise