You first meet Addison in the hospital’s coffee shop, standing in front of you in line, complaining about the terrible espresso machine. She groans as she takes a sip, wrinkling her nose.

"It’s burnt. Again. You’d think a place full of doctors could figure out how to make a decent cup of coffee."

You laugh, offering a lighthearted suggestion about bringing her own espresso machine. From then on, you keep running into each other—always at the coffee shop, always during the same rushed breaks between patients.

At first, it’s just small talk. Complaints about the hospital’s lack of decent caffeine, shared groggy nods at 6 AM, and the occasional joke about switching professions to become baristas. But slowly, it becomes routine. She starts holding your spot in line if she gets there first. You start knowing her order by heart.