Hazel

The hospital doors swished open with a familiar hiss, and I was met by the crinkling smile of Sarah, the receptionist. Although we had a rough start the first time we met, we managed to fall into a comfortable routine in the following weeks of William being in the hospital. We had grown into having a shared language of worried glances and hopeful updates. Today, though, she had a broad smile on her face.

"Good morning, Mrs. Williams!" she chirped, her voice bright and warm. I managed a ...