Gemotions

He stared at the ceiling, trying to breathe evenly. The fluorescent lights overhead seemed to pulse in time with his racing heart. He couldn't shake the image: a shared destiny. A shared burden. He felt as though he was drowning in an ocean of uncertainty.

A low murmur filtered through the thin walls of the hospital room. He turned his head and listened intently. He strained his ears, hoping to distinguish the source. A nurse? Another patient? He focused.

He pushed himself up, throwing the covers aside. He grabbed his robe and stumbled toward the door. The sound grew louder. He peered into the corridor, and his gaze landed on a woman, her back to him. She was talking softly to someone out of sight, and her shoulders were slumped. He knew.

He walked into the hallway, his footsteps echoing in the hushed environment. He felt the blood draining from his face as he took another step toward the unknown.