Allison

As I stood in the hospital bathroom, the icy water cascaded down my skin, sending shivers down my spine. I gritted my teeth, enduring the chill. Hot water was a luxury in this huge, expensive hospital, obviously.

I finished washing, wiped myself clean, and slipped into my clothes. The soft fabric provided meager comfort against the bleak hospital atmosphere. I stepped out of the bathroom, and my gaze fell upon mom, still fast asleep. Her snores resonated through the room, a symphony of exhaustion.

I settled onto the bed, trying to catch a few winks, but my phone pierced the silence, shrill and insistent. I reached for it, my...