Ava’s POV

I showed up twenty minutes early for the emergency session, body still shaking.

The anxiety had been building all day—tight chest, racing thoughts that made it hard to breathe in my own apartment. Dr. Harlow had told me I could come in if it got bad enough. Tonight it was bad enough.

I barely managed to throw on a soft black sweater and jeans before driving over, hands unsteady on the wheel.

The building was quiet, with most of the other offices dark, except for the waiting room light that was still on. I checked in with the empty front desk, sat down, and tried to slow my...