I sat in the hospital waiting room, my eyes glued to the floor. The place was filled with the sound of hurried footsteps and the distant beeping of machines, but it felt like all of that noise was muted around me. My phone buzzed again, and I glanced down. Another text from Dexter.
"I'm here."
I inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. I didn't even know what I was supposed to feel at this point. Loss, anger, exhaustion—it all blended together into something heavy that settled in my chest. I stood up and made my way to the entrance, the automatic doors sliding open as I stepped outside.
Dexter leaned against his car, arms crossed, eyes scanning the parking lot until they landed on me. His expression softened when he saw my face, and he pushed off the car, walking toward me with a purpos
