A twisted encounter

The sterile, fluorescent-lit corridor of the New York City hospital buzzed with activity, a constant ebb and flow of doctors, nurses, and anxious family members. Meghan Hale stood amidst the chaos, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind clouded with a mixture of fear and desperation. Her mother's life hung in the balance, and every passing minute felt like an eternity. With each restless step she took, Meghan's anguish grew deeper, twisting like a thorny vine around her heart. She clutched her mother's worn-out purse tightly, its familiar weight grounding her in this sea of uncertainty. Thoughts of their shared laughter, their cherished moments, and the unbearable pain they had endured filled her mind, adding fuel to the fire of her anxiety. The hallway felt suffocating, as if the walls were closing in on her. Meghan's pacing became relentless, her steps echoing like a desperate plea for hope. She traced the same path over and over, her eyes darting to the closed doors of the surgic