'Here we go...'
Eli's throat was dry when he approached the nurse's station, every step stiff with the effort of holding himself together.
His palms were clammy, leaving damp crescents on the counter as he leaned forward, his voice cracking despite his attempt at control.
"Excuse me," he managed, almost too soft. "Anna Kim. Can you… tell me what room she's in?"
The nurse glanced up from her clipboard, her expression calm, professional—but Eli felt her eyes cut through him all the same.
Her brow lifted slightly, polite but guarded. "And you are?"
For a split second, Eli froze. His stomach lurched violently, his heart leaping straight into his throat. "Uhm."
His mind scrambled for a lie, any cover story, but his mouth betrayed him before his brain caught up.
"I'm… I'm family."
The words were raw, desperate, but true.
The nurse didn't question it. Didn't doubt him. She simply nodded, flipping through her chart.
