Carla slips quietly out of bed, careful not to wake her sleeping fiancé, Derek. The digital clock on her nightstand reads 5:45 AM. She moves through the dimly lit house with practiced ease, her mind already running through the day's tasks. In the kitchen, she pours herself a cup of coffee, savoring the warmth and the brief moment of solitude. By 6:15, she's dressed in her scrubs, her stethoscope slung around her neck like an emblem of her dedication.
As Carla tiptoes back into the bedroom to grab her bag, Derek stirs and opens his eyes. A reporter and photographer with a knack for capturing the human side of every story, he smiles sleepily at her.
"Morning, love," he mumbles, rubbing his eyes. "You're back in your schedule?"
"Morning," Carla replies softly, leaning down to kiss him. "Yes, and I got a big day ahead. Finalizing the report for the board meeting today."
