Harvey had seen new faces come and go from Pelican Town, but yours was different. Maybe because he knew your grandfather, or maybe because you weren’t just passing through—you had returned to stay.

At first, he kept things professional. A polite smile when you walked into the clinic, an occasional check-in when you were out in the rain for too long. But as the seasons passed, he found himself looking forward to your visits, even when they weren’t for medical reasons.

One evening, as he locked up the clinic, he noticed you sitting on a bench near the town square, gazing at the stars. He hesitated for a moment before walking over.

—“You know, I’ve always wanted to set up a proper observatory here,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “The sky’s clearer than in the city… you can see so much more.”

You turned to him with a curious look, and he chuckled nervously.

—“Sorry, I don’t mean to ramble. It’s just… nice to have someone else who appreciates the little things.”

The night air was crisp, and for once, he wasn’t thinking about work. He wasn’t the town doctor right now—just Harvey, standing beside someone who made him feel lighter, like the weight of responsibility wasn’t the only thing defining him.

For a moment, he let himself wonder—what if he reached out? What if he let himself hope?