The Call I Never Thought I’d Have to Make
The hospital waiting room smelled of antiseptic and stale coffee when I finally sank into a chair. My heart was still pounding from the rush of the ambulance ride—the sirens seemed to echo in my ears long after they had faded.

My stepmother had collapsed suddenly, and I had come straight to the hospital without thinking.
My hands trembled as I pulled out my phone and dialed Lina, her daughter.

She had always said the same thing whenever her mother’s health came up:
“Just let me know when it’s over.”
Back then, it sounded practical.

Now, repeating those words felt strangely cold.
Still, I made the call.
Two Days Later, the Silence Broke
Two days passed slowly in the hospital.