“I’m here to see my mother, Emma Blackwood, is it all right for us to visit her?” Emily asked politely.

The receptionist nodded shakily, typing with trembling hands, and stopped suddenly, “E-Emma Blackwood?

“Yes”

She swallowed hard, her face growing pale, “Last night she…um…f-fainted suddenly, but we stabilized her, and yes y-you can go see her”.

Emily didn’t wait for further details and she practically rushed toward her mother's room, her heel clicking against the ...