## Chapter 11: Morning After

The warmth of the sun seeped through the blinds, casting a golden glow on Luka's face as he sat on the couch, lost in thought. Pam got up to grab another cup of coffee from the kitchen, and as she walked back into the room, she noticed Luka's distant expression. "Hey, you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face. Luka blinked, refocusing on the present moment. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, forcing a smile. "Just...processing everything, I guess." Pam sat down beside him, handing him the cup of coffee. "Take your time," she said, her voice gentle. "I'm not going anywhere." As Luka took a sip of the coffee, he felt a sense of gratitude towards Pam. She had a way of making him feel like he could be himself, without fear of judgment. He looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the kindness and compassion in her eyes. "Can I ask you something?" Luka said, his voice hesitant. "Of course," Pam replied, her eyes locked on his. "Why do you do what you do?" Luka asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "You're a social worker, right? You've seen some tough stuff, and yet you keep going back for more." Pam smiled, a small, wistful smile. "I do it because I believe in the human spirit," she said. "I believe that everyone deserves a chance to heal, to grow, and to find happiness. And I want to be a part of that process." Luka nodded, intrigued by her passion. "That's beautiful," he said, his voice sincere. "You're an inspiration, Pam." Pam laughed, a soft, throaty sound. "Hardly," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'm just doing what needs to be done." As they sat there, sipping their coffee and talking, Luka felt a sense of connection with Pam that he had never felt with anyone before. It was like they had crossed a threshold, like they had entered a new level of understanding and intimacy. The sound of Luka's phone ringing broke the silence, and he groaned, reluctantly getting up to answer it. He glanced at the screen and saw that it was his colleague, Dr. Patel. "Hey, what's up?" Luka answered, trying to sound more awake than he felt. "Luka, we need to talk," Dr. Patel said, her voice serious. "One of our patients is missing, and we think she might be in trouble." Luka's instincts kicked in, and he felt a surge of adrenaline. "What's the patient's name?" he asked, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Her name is Sophia," Dr. Patel replied. "She's a young woman, barely 20 years old. We've been working with her to get her back on her feet, but she disappeared last night, and we can't find her anywhere." Luka's gut tightened with concern. He had worked with Sophia before, and he knew that she was fragile, still struggling to cope with her past. "I'll be right there," he said, already heading towards the door. Pam stood up, her eyes questioning. "What's going on?" she asked. Luka turned to her, his expression grim. "One of my patients is missing," he said. "I need to go and find her." Without hesitation, Pam nodded. "I'll come with you," she said, her voice firm. Luka hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "Okay," he said. "Let's go."