24. Difficult situation

When we arrived at the hospital, I rushed through the entrance, my heart pounding as I approached the front desk. “My mother, she was just brought in,” I said breathlessly. “Her name is Diana Carlisle.”

The nurse typed something into her computer, then gave me a sympathetic look. “She’s in the ICU. The doctors are with her now. You’ll have to wait a little while before you can see her.”

I clenched my fists, feeling the frustration bubble up again. Waiting was the last thing I wanted to do, but I had no choice. Ivan placed a hand on my back, guiding me to a nearby seat. We sat in silence, the ticking clock on the wall growing louder with each second.

After what felt like hours, a doctor finally came out, his expression serious but not grim. I stood up immediately, searching his face for answers.

“Is she okay?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“She’s stable for now,” he said gently. “We’re monitoring her closely, but she had a severe panic attack. Her heart is weak, and stress like this can