The woman in front of me wants to supersize her black coffee. Her outfit is classic corporate and her perfume has an aggressive oud note. I don’t remember seeing or smelling her. Has she just moved here? She rushes past me after getting her order, almost bumping me out of the way—surprisingly strong for someone her size. Is she really just a white-collar worker or is she something else?

“Does it hurt?” I ask.

“You mean the procedure or what happens afterwards?” Dr. Hughes tightens the straps around my wrists and my chest, so I guess that’s a “Yes”. For whatever reason, his name tag is handwritten, and the first few letters have taken up most of the place. “Dr. Hug” isn’t exactly a forward thinker.

“Nevermind.” I would’ve shrugged if I could.