Chapter 166

• I leaned against the cold wall of the waiting room, my heart racing as the minutes ticked by. Each shuffling of feet and whisper from the nurses felt amplified in the tense silence. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, oscillating between worry and doubt. Elli was in there—my beautiful, brave wife—and I couldn’t help but feel helpless.
• Why hadn’t I insisted on coming with her? Why hadn’t I pushed harder to ask more questions before they whisked her away? I tightened my fists, checking the clock again. It hadn’t moved nearly enough since the last time I’d looked.
• Just then, a nurse walked by, her scrubs a stark white against the gray walls. I shot up. “Excuse me!” I called out, my voice sharp with urgency. “Do you have any updates on Elli?”