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At the Nocturnist, we are careful to ensure that all stories comply with healthcare privacy laws.

Details may have been changed to ensure patient confidentiality.

All views expressed are those of the person speaking and not their employer.

You have this dream, kind of a common dream, where you're in a nondescript building.

Nothing on the walls, no windows or clocks to tell you the time of day.

You walk through a maze of hallways toward a security guard. He pats you down, removes all your belongings, and leads you to a computer terminal.

The walls are gray.

Your nose burns with the smell of cleaning solution. As you sit down at this computer, you look around and realize

there are other people sitting at computers.

Dozens of people all hunched in front of these screens.

They're all clicking their mice, no one's speaking.

There's a set of headphones on the desk. You put them

on.

At the top of your screen, you notice a timer counting down. And then you remember, you're taking a test.

And not just any test, a test that will determine your future.

What you can do and who you can be.

Have you been studying for this test?

Studying enough?

Suddenly you feel an urge to escape, but you can't. You're locked in.

And time is passing.

If you don't start now, you'll never catch up.

...