The phone in Richard's hand vibrated with each ring, each chime like a heavy beat in his chest. The anxiety began to creep into his mind as he stared at the screen, seeing no signal from Dr. Carlton. His finger hovered over the dial button again, the weight of each moment growing more intense. He pressed redial, his patience wearing thin.
The phone rang again, but this time, the sound was like an endless void. The ringing echoed in the silence, but there was no answer. The quiet stretched on, unyielding. Something wasn’t right. This wasn’t like Dr. Carlton. He was always quick to respond, always there when needed. But this time... nothing.
Richard clenched his lips tightly, a sense of unease rising deep inside him. He wasn’t someone who easily worried, especially when he had faced so man
