Chapter 77

• Charlotte sat anxiously in the waiting room, her eyes darting to her watch every few seconds, a knot of worry forming in her stomach. Fears of him being injured or worse, unconscious, plagued her mind. Abruptly, a loud buzz and announcement signaled the end of visiting hours, jolting her from her thoughts. Confusion clouded her features as she rose from her seat.
• "Excuse me," she called out to the guard, her voice laced with desperation. "Are visiting hours over?"
• "Yes, they are," the guard responded curtly, already moving away.