Charlotte sat anxiously in the waiting room, her eyes darting to her watch every few seconds, a knot of worry forming in her stomach. Fears of him being injured or worse, unconscious, plagued her mind. Abruptly, a loud buzz and announcement signaled the end of visiting hours, jolting her from her thoughts. Confusion clouded her features as she rose from her seat.
"Excuse me," she called out to the guard, her voice laced with desperation. "Are visiting hours over?"
"Yes, they are," the guard responded curtly, already moving away.
"Wait, I haven't seen my husband," Charlotte's voice carried a note of desperation.
"You need to leave, ma'am. Visiting hours have ended," the guard reiterated, walking off and leaving Charlotte standing there, feeling helpless and abandoned.
Meanw
