“Knock knock.” Carol popped her head into Zoe’s room. “Can I come in?”

  “Hey,” Zoe said. The fluorescent lights in the room highlighted her ghastly pallor. “Yeah, come in.”

  She smiled, coming into the room to join the four of them. “Scoot over.”

  "Last time you sat with us, you couldn't get back up on your own. You really want to--ouch!” Roman grunted as the receptionist kicked him in the ribs then made space for her in the circle.

  “You were brave today, Zoe,” Jin said. She had removed her mask but still hid her snaggle tooth behind a close-lipped smile. “You too, Roman.”

  “As were you, Jin.” Roman said. “This is what, your third year with us?”

  “Second,” she replied.

  “Even more admirable,” the male vet said. Jin turned the slightest shade of pink. “How about you?” He looked towards Ever. “Seeing this much death must be very overwhelming for you.”

  Ever indulged in a knowing look with Zoe, whose mouth twisted into a wry smile.

  “I’m alright,” he replied. He squeezed Zoe’s hand, which he had been holding for the last fifteen minutes after Fatima left. “Just glad I could be here to support everyone.”

  “Can you really understand animals?” Roman asked. The male vet leaned in, glasses glinting.

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  “Yes.”

  “How?”

  “I… don’t know,” Ever shrugged; it was the truth. “I hear the sounds they make but in my head, I understand what they’re saying.”

  Ever held Roman’s gaze. It felt like Logan’s in the early days when he still worked at Pagoto’s. A pang of guilt hit him. It had been so long since he thought about him and Taylor. I should message them to say Happy New Year.

  “Anyway,” Roman said, leaning back, “I think that Zoe should take some time away from the clinic.”

  Everyone sitting in the circle looked at him, which made him smirk in satisfaction.

  “What are you up to now?” Zoe said tiredly, eyes closed. She was resting her head on the cabinets behind her.

  “Nothing,” the male vet said. “I just think that given the circumstances, Zoe should do more for herself.”

  The circumstances? Ever looked around. There wasn’t a flicker of acknowledgement from anyone else.

  “I’ve called Reuben,” Roman said. “You’re going to spend some time with him next week, helping animals in the wild up north.”

  “No,” Zoe said flatly. “There will be more animals coming into the shelter.”

  “We’ll turn them away. It can be another clinic’s problem.”

  “How about the patients?”

  “I’ll call them and have them reschedule.”

  “How about…” she looked around, expression a mix of concern and gratitude. “How about you guys?”

  Jin put her hand on Zoe’s knee, giving it a light pat. “We’ll be OK.”

  Zoe sighed and looked around at the group. “It has been on my bucket list for a while now.” She looked at Ever and smiled, a bit of colour returning to her cheeks. “It’ll be a new experience for you too.”

  Carol groaned as she swivelled her legs underneath herself and rose. “Just make sure you don’t get eaten by a crocodile!”