Chapter 44: A Supportive Presence

The smell of disinfectant was sterile, hanging in the air and mingling with an undercurrent of anxiety that seemed to seep from every corner of this hospital waiting room. Olivia sat rigidly on an uncomfortable plastic chair, her fingers absently tracing the worn edges of her sketchbook. The rhythmic ticking of a wall clock seemed unusually loud, each second bringing closer a moment that could mean everything. Beside her, the steady presence of Mark was like balm to her raw nerves. He sat quietly, his shoulder rubbing against hers, a silent reminder that she was not alone. "Olivia Greene?" The nurse's voice pierced the whispered conversations in the waiting room. Olivia's head jerked up, and her heart suddenly started racing. She felt Mark's hand on her back, pushing her along with gentle pressure. "You've got this, Liv," he muttered in a low voice. "I'll be right here when you're done." Olivia nodded weakly and got to her feet, following the nurse down the corridor. It was both a