Their voices rose again, sharper and more aggressive, but Alex did not respond. Not a single word left his lips.
Instead, he pushed forward, his strides steady and determined despite the resistance.
The driver extended his arm, shielding Alex from the nearest cameras while nudging the reporters aside just enough to allow him passage.
It was not easy.
For every step Alex took, the crowd seemed to close in again, as though intent on trapping him in place.
The air felt thick, heavy with tension and curiosity, and even breathing became difficult under the pressure.
Still, he did not stop.
His eyes remained fixed ahead, locked on the hospital entrance as though it were the only thing anchoring him in that moment.
Seconds stretched unbearably long, each one feeling like an eternity as they fought their way forward.
But eventually, finally, the resistance began to ease.
The density of the crowd thinned just enough for them to break through.
