That night, Clara didn't see anyone. Maybe she was just being paranoid. Maybe it was all the stress—the old woman at the hospital, Laura's sudden appearance, her threats and how she had been given a second chance at life—messing with her head.
The weekend passed quietly. No messages, no surprises, no signs of Laura. But Clara didn't let herself relax. Absence didn't mean safety. She knew Laura was out there somewhere, scheming, waiting for the perfect moment. And Clara had no idea what that moment might be.
Monday morning arrived with the usual rush of city noise outside her window. This will be her first day back to the work she loved with her heart after being reborn.
Clara dressed quickly, shoved her hair into a ponytail, and tried to shake off the lingering anxiety. Work would help—focus on experiments, focus on something real. It had been too long since she'd felt that kind of purpose.
Nathaniel drove her to the Company research lab in near silence. Every now and then, he glanced at her, his eyes filled with that quiet concern that always made her chest tighten.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked finally, his voice low.
Clara gave a small smile. "I'll be fine. I just need to get back into it… work will help."
He nodded but didn't press. That was enough.
Stepping into the lab, Clara felt the familiar rhythm of it all—the steady click of machines, the reduced voices of people talking to each other, the faint smell of chemicals and glass. Some of the other scientists gave her curious looks, whispering as she passed, but she ignored them. She didn't let it bother, she'd gotten used to being stared at from her last life.
"Hey! You must be Clara!" a warm voice called. Clara turned to see a woman with kind brown eyes and a friendly smile waving at her. "I'm Mara—I work in biochemistry. I've heard about your work. Really glad to meet you in person."
Clara relaxed a fraction, letting herself smile. "Hi, Mara. Nice to meet you. I wasn't sure how everyone would react with me joining the lab."
Mara laughed softly. "Ignore the gossip. Some people love stirring up trouble. Most of us just want to focus on the work."
Clara felt a little warmth creep into her chest. "I'm hoping I can do the same."
"You will," Mara said firmly. "And if anyone gives you trouble, you tell me. We'll deal with it together."
Clara smiled again, this time genuinely. It was a small thing, but it mattered—Mara could be the first real friend she had made since her rebirth, someone she could trust and talk to without suspicion.
As the morning passed, Clara fell into her work, reviewing experiments and carefully checking instruments. Mara stayed nearby, offering helpful suggestions and quiet encouragement. "Hey, watch your pipette there," she said, pointing. "It's easy to overshoot if you're rushing."
Clara chuckled. "Thanks. Old habits die hard."
"You're doing fine," Mara replied. "Honestly, you look like you belong here already."
She did belong here, this was the only thing that didn't get taken away from her in her last life.
For the first time in days, Clara laughed. The tension in her shoulders loosened, replaced with the satisfaction of being in her element. Still, a small, sharp corner of her mind stayed alert—a reminder that Laura was still out there.
"I can't believe the weekend was so quiet," Clara said, breaking the silence. "I feel like I'm waiting for something terrible to happen."
Mara raised an eyebrow. "You think it's going to?"
Clara hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know. But… I'll be ready if it does."
Because Clara knew Laura would return. She just didn't know when.