278 THE MAD SCRATCH

The sterile white walls of the waiting room taunted Kate's tear-streaked face. Each sniffle reverberated in the large space, contrasting with the steady tick of the wall clock. She held onto a crumpled tissue; her rehearsed apology dissolving on her tongue. Across from her, Madison sat motionless, her expression inscrutable. When the doctor appeared, a faint smile appeared in his tired eyes. "The family wants to pursue further treatment, Mrs. Kate." Disappointment clouded Kate's expression, crushing the faint hope she'd held onto. Madison stood up, the fabric of her tailored skirt whispering as she moved. "That's great news. We're committed to ensuring a full recovery." "I'm not crazy! You all need to listen to me!" Kate yelled at the top of her lungs, throwing herself onto the hard, bare-white floor. Madison leaned close to Kate, gently positioning her fingers on her lips. "Shh, Kate, my dear mother-in-law. Don't you want to get better? This will be your new home," she whispered.