Vanessa's car pulled up at the police station, her tires rolling to a slow stop as she exhaled deeply. The drive back had been quiet, giving her time to collect her thoughts, but now that she was here, reality came crashing down. She had changed into a fresh uniform, crisp and professional, but the exhaustion clung to her like a second skin.
As she stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance, she could feel the weight of the gazes on her. The men in the station all turned their heads as she passed, some offering polite greetings, others giving her appreciative looks that made her skin crawl. She nodded in acknowledgment but kept her pace steady, ignoring the way some of them lingered just a little too long. She had been here for a short while, but the novelty of a stunning new officer hadn't worn off for them yet. She hoped it would soon.
