Daisy's POV

The hospital hallway reeked of that sharp, sterile smell of disinfectant. The red light above the operating room was still lit—it had been three hours since my mom went in, and there was no sign of her coming out.

Just as I was sinking into despair, the operating room doors swung open. The doctor stepped out, taking off his mask. I rushed up to him, grabbing his arm, my voice shaky and desperate, “Doctor, my mom—”

“Your mother suffered a stroke,” he ...