Gemotions

The sterile white walls of the hospital seemed to close in around her. Her knuckles were white from gripping the armrests of the chair. She had been here for hours, and the situation seemed to be getting worse, not better. The nurses kept using reassuring tones, but the words were empty.

The discovery that her records had been mixed up with those of a man named George had triggered an explosion of anxiety. Every cough, every ache, every sensation suddenly felt amplified, magnified by the uncertainty. Her mind raced, conjuring worst-case scenarios.

"How much longer?" she blurted out to a passing orderly. Her voice cracked slightly. The orderly gave a noncommittal shrug, and she felt a fresh wave of frustration wash over her. Every second felt like an hour.