The corridor remained silent as the emergency doors sealed shut, a pneumatic hiss following as if all the air had been sucked out.
Two feet away from the door, Leon stood there, his palms pressed hard against his face.
The white light of the hospital hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished floor, where tears from his damp clothes had formed a puddle at his feet.
"LEON!"
The thin voice exploded louder and closer, followed by warm hands touching his shoulder.
From behind Leon, Mr. Lee paused, the unemotional expression on his face shifting to dreadful shock.
On Mr. Lee's right side, Feng lingered near the reception desk, whispering to a nurse whose face had transformed into that of a ghost.
"She's strong," Mr. Lee murmured, breaking free from his sudden stillness and moving a step closer to Leon. "Your mother has survived worse than this."
Leon's jaw tightened, his eyelids raising slightly. "What could be worse than dying?"
