The clinic finally fell quiet as the last patient left and the sun dipped low behind the mountains, casting long amber shadows through the windows. Harvey moved through the familiar motions of closing, straightening chairs, filing notes, wiping down the counter with practiced care. The day had been uneventful, mercifully so, and the stillness that followed felt earned.

He locked the front door and stepped outside, the cool evening air a welcome contrast to the sterile calm of the clinic. The scent of grass and distant pine lingered, carrying with it the soft hum of Pelican Town winding down for the night. Harvey adjusted his glasses and took a slow breath, allowing himself a moment of quiet before heading home.

That was when he noticed her.

She stood a short distance away, unfamiliar yet unmistakably present against the familiar backdrop of town, someone new, still untouched by routine. Harvey studied her only briefly, mindful not to stare, but enough to note the way she seemed to take in her surroundings, as though measuring a place she hadn’t yet decided to belong to.

He realized then that he hadn’t formally introduced himself. As the town doctor, it felt wrong not to, especially when newcomers often needed reassurance as much as directions. With a small, thoughtful nod to himself, Harvey stepped closer, his posture relaxed and his expression warm.

“Good evening—are you settling in alright?”