The big hall felt different now.
The wild rush from earlier had slowed down to a gentle, steady hum. Hours had passed since Dr. Ramirez called time on the morning rounds.
The place had turned into a big waiting room full of tired but excited people.
The air felt warmer. Soft voices mixed together everywhere. You could hear the quiet click of clipboards being put down, the soft crinkle of water bottles, and little bursts of laughter breaking through now and then.
Someone had dimmed the overhead lights just a touch. The shadows stretched longer across the carpet. The whole space felt less like a tough competition and more like old friends catching up after a long day.
