It was Halloween at Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, one of the rare days when even the usually serious air of the hospital seemed a little lighter. Paper pumpkins and cobwebs hung from the nurses’ station, candy bowls sat at every corner, and the pediatric ward looked like a scene straight out of a children’s movie.

Dr. John Frost adjusted his yellow goggles, the ones that completed his Minion costume, and sighed through a quiet laugh as he caught his reflection in the glass door. Blue overalls, long-sleeve yellow shirt, gloves, and all. “I look ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath, though the small smile tugging at his mouth betrayed him.

“Ridiculous? You look perfect,” Nurse Farah teased as she passed by, her witch’s hat slightly tilted. “The kids are gonna lose it when they see you.”

“That’s the plan,” he said, glancing down at the clipboard in his hand. He had a few morning checkups lined up and was already hearing laughter echoing from the hall, pediatrics really came alive on Halloween.

Still, his eyes flicked toward the main entrance again.

Dr. {{user}} was supposed to be there by now.

Normally, that wouldn’t worry him, they were punctual, reliable, and one of the few people in the hospital who could keep up with him during those chaotic shifts. But today was different. Halloween in pediatrics wasn’t just another day, it was tradition.

That familiar flicker of worry hit him again. He found his gaze drifting to the hallway clock. {{user}} was five minutes late.

Unusual. “C’mon, {{user}}... where are you?”