THE AWAKENING HOUR [ TEASER CHAPTER ]

CHAPTER ONE

A cold mist hung over Edinburgh in Scotland, UK. The phenomenon, frequent between the months of April and September, occurs when warm air passes over the cold North Sea and takes over the city's streets, leaving it gloomy, gray and mystical.

Sarah McKay watched the mist drift across the surface through the window of an office in St. Patrick Square. Although she was an outstanding student at Edinburgh University Medical School, she was not there for some sort of training in a practical setting. Inside that room Sarah was simply a patient.

She hated taking on that role.

With apparent annoyance, she shifted her position in the chair a few times, as discreetly as possible. Still impatient and introverted, she entwined her fingers in her long, wavy hair at the ends, gently smoothing the coppery red locks with golden nuances accentuated by the ambient light.

The psychotherapy and counseling session had been completed before Sarah returned from her reveries. Dr. Amaya Jamil was an excellent professional, but the young woman still saw her as the representation of an imposition.

"Miss McKay?", the therapist asked. The woman brought her hands to her face, straightened her thick-framed glasses and frowned in disapproval.

Dr. Jamil was of medium height and large bones, and she strove to ensure that her appearance was always impeccable. A demanding woman and a highly regarded therapist, she saw in Sarah McKay a greater challenge than she had imagined. Patiently, she put a strand of unruly brown hair in its place, and reinforced the importance of commitment and participation to the progress of the case.

Sarah looked at the therapist with her mahogany-brown eyes, and nodded in affirmation. Arguing is not worth the effort, she thought. She had started therapy four months ago due to episodes of anxiety and her perfectionism.

However, from Sarah's perspective, the high self-imposed demands rewarded her as a medical student. Thus, as the only child of extraordinary parents, she refused to give up this behavior, no matter the cost.

"Have a great week, Dr. Miller".

Without looking back, Sarah McKay grabbed her purse and a bright red umbrella and hurried out of the clinic. The drive home was not long, and it was more comfortable now that she could enjoy her car, a gift given to her by her paternal grandmother last year.

The young woman scanned the street for a black Ford Focus ST Line and wondered if she would find the house empty as she approached the vehicle. She hadn't yet reached the maximum time she could spend on the parking meter, but she was determined to get out of there as soon as possible. She got into the car, sighed and started driving in the left-hand side, which – according to popular belief – arose from the tradition of duels between knights in the Middle Ages.

The landscape was spectacular and steep. Built on seven hills, Edinburgh oozed charm and elegance, and was full of contrasts. Historic buildings in the Old Town preserved the medieval look, while cobbled streets, winding passages and mysterious alleyways gave the place a dark, mystical air. All around were Georgian houses in the New Town, shops and banks. In short, the green contrasted with the gray of the city, with many public parks and natural spaces. But what really enchanted Sarah was a large brick house on Hope Terrace. A property full of memories, passed down from parents to children over the generations of the McKay family.

However, such a residency became too great – a heavy burden of an inheritance – due to the crash of the plane Jane McKay was traveling in after being selected for a 'Doctors Without Borders' project. Jane was an experienced and internationally respected neonatologist. The insistence on setting high standards and the relentless pursuit to reach, or even surpass that model, stemmed from Sarah McKay's desire to follow in her mother's footsteps.