The lobby lights were off for the night.

“The hospital gave him something for the pain,” Michael said.

“They have to set the bone tonight.”

Carla tapped her red pen on her leather notebook.

She looked down at the pavement.

“The board sat in that room another forty minutes,” Carla said.

Her crisp business language sounded empty in the cold air.

“I had no choice but to leave,” Michael said.