The waiting room felt like a prison of time. Every tick of the clock was a reminder of Gabriel’s fragile state, the seconds dragging by as if mocking Leila's growing anxiety. She sat in one of the hard plastic chairs, staring at the door where Gabriel had been taken moments ago. Her mind raced, replaying the events of the night—Daniel’s sudden reappearance, the firefight, the narrow escape. But one question gnawed at her the most: What was Daniel hiding from her?
Daniel stood a few feet away, pacing back and forth, his jaw clenched, his hand running through his hair as if searching for answers himself. Leila wanted to confront him, to demand the truth, but the weight of the night held her back. Ethan and Lily sat quietly nearby, the tension between them palpable, as they both watched the
