The minutes passed slower than they should have.
Malissa hadn't left yet. Her bag was in her hand. But she hadn't moved. Something felt wrong. Not enough to panic. Not yet.
But enough to make her stay. She paced once. Stopped. Looked at her phone again.
Nothing. She exhaled slowly.
"Just go," she muttered under her breath.
Her hand tightened around the strap of her bag.
She turned toward the door, her phone rang.
This time, she didn't hesitate.
She answered immediately.
"Hello?"
"Miss Fisher, this is the hospital."
The voice was different.
Tighter.
"We need you to come in immediately."
Her grip tightened.
"What happened?"
"Her condition has changed."
That was all it took. Malissa moved. Fast.
The call ended before she even remembered to respond properly.
Her thoughts scattered.
No structure.
No order.
Just one thing...
Go.
She grabbed her bag. Missed the strap. Grabbed it again.
Her breathing lost rhythm.
No.
No,
She stepped out into the hallway.
Too fast.
Her vision blurred slightly.
She didn't care.
"Malissa."
She stopped.
Not because she wanted to.
Because she couldn't ignore it.
She turned.
Alexander stood a few steps away.
Watching her.
His eyes moved once.
Taking everything in. Her breathing. Her hands.
The way she hadn't steadied.
"What happened?"
She swallowed.
"It's my mother."
That was all she could say.
Her voice wasn't steady.
"I need to go."
A beat.
Alexander didn't ask anything else.
Didn't wait.
"We're leaving."
He turned immediately.
Already moving.
Malissa followed.
No argument. No hesitation.
The elevator doors closed.
Silence.
Her fingers tightened around her bag.
Her thoughts ran ahead of her.
Hospital. Doctor. Her mother.
Too many possibilities.
None of them good.
She shut her eyes briefly.
Beside her, Alexander stood still.
Unmoving. But present.
The doors opened.
The car was already waiting.
Of course it was.
Alexander stepped in.
She followed immediately.
"St. Mary's Hospital," he said.
The driver nodded. The car moved. Fast.
The city blurred past.
Malissa leaned back slightly.
Her breathing still uneven.
Her hands still not steady.
Her thoughts,
Still racing.
"What if.."
She stopped herself.
No.
She couldn't go there.
She pressed her lips together.
Forced herself to breathe. Slow. Again.
Beside her, Alexander finally spoke.
"She'll receive the best care."
His tone didn't change.
Calm. Controlled. But deliberate.
Malissa nodded faintly.
She didn't trust herself to speak.
The hospital came into view.
Too soon. Not soon enough. The car stopped.
She moved before it fully settled.
The door opened. She stepped out immediately.
Cold air hit her. Bright lights. Voices. Movement.
Everything felt louder. Faster.
She turned briefly,
Alexander was already behind her.
Steady. Unshaken. Their eyes met. Just for a second.
Then she turned away. And walked in. Fast.
Because right now,
Nothing else mattered.