*Olivia*

My skin had turned a pale yellow under the old fluorescent lights above, casting a sinking shadow that was very unflattering to my appearance.

“Mrs. Valentino?” A nurse dressed in blue scrubs and a stethoscope hanging around her neck asked. There were cartoon stickers stuck to her ID badge, and she smiled kindly as she called my name.

“That’s me,” I answered coolly, walking straight past the waiting room. I had only been waiting ...