I watched the buttons light up for each floor I went down, time slowed as I watched the numbers tick down. I was nervous, impatient, and trying to hold all my pieces together, Sally’s voice echoed through my mind, repeating the words that I felt would stop my heart from beating. Only there it was still thumping painfully in my chest.

When the elevator doors pinged on the bottom floor, I took off running, my shoulder smashing into the elevator door having not had enough time to open completely. I couldn't feel anything but the dread building inside of me. The hospital wasn’t far, and I made it there in...