Grant sat in the waiting room, hoping to see David Lawrence before he left for the day. His leg bounced up and down, and he couldn’t stop biting his nails. The childhood habit he’d long ago kicked had resurfaced as a source of comfort in the last week. At this point, he’d take any comfort he could get. He also needed sleep, which was why he’d come to the clinic after regular hours, hoping to catch David before he left for the day.

He couldn’t go through another night like last night. The racing of his brain, the images he’d never forget, the fear, the horror, the shock… It tormented his waking and sleeping hours, and he’d give anything for some relief.

The doors that led to the examination rooms swung open, and Victoria Stevens, the nurse practitioner who worked with David, came through on her way out. She had her purse and car keys in hand, but she stopped short when she saw him in the waiting room.

“Grant? What’re you doing here?”

“I’d like to see David, if he’s got a minute.”

“He’s done seeing patients today. Could you come back in the morning? I’m sure he’d sneak you in—”

“I need to see him today. Now.”

Victoria took a measuring look at him. “Let me check with him. I’ll be right back.”

While he waited, Grant paced the small room, worried about what he’d do if David refused to see him or worse yet, refused to give him something that would knock him out for a few hours. He needed to be knocked out, and nothing he’d tried on his own had worked.

Victoria returned. “Grant? Come on back.”

He held back a whimper of relief as he followed her down the hallway to David’s office.

“Hey, Grant,” David said, gesturing to his visitor chair. A stack of folders and paper littered the desk. “Come in and have a seat.”

“Do you want me to stay?” Victoria asked.

“That’s okay,” David said.

“I’ll see you in the morning. Bye, Grant.”

“See you.”

David sat back in his chair. “What’s up?”

Grant stared at the man who would’ve been his brother-in-law had he not cheated on Janey a year before they were supposed to be married. Grant had known him a long time, and if there’d been any choice of seeing another doctor, he would’ve chosen anonymity over this. But on Gansett Island, there was no other choice. David was the only doctor.

“Grant? Is everything all right?”

“I need something to help me sleep.”

“Tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m not sleeping, and even when I’m technically sleeping, I’m still aware and half-awake, and I’m tired all the time. If I could just get some sleep, some real sleep, I’d be a lot better.”