Isabella’s heart pounded in her chest as she followed the receptionist down the sterile, white-walled hallway of the hospital. The bright fluorescent lights overhead flickered slightly, casting a harsh, cold light that made the entire place feel devoid of life. The linoleum floor was spotless, reflecting the dim glow of the lights, and the faint smell of antiseptic hung in the air, mixing with the sterile scent of freshly laundered sheets. Every step she took seemed to echo loudly, the only sound in the eerily quiet corridor apart from the occasional distant murmur of voices and the soft beep of machines.
The receptionist, a kind-eyed woman with a gentle smile, led her through a maze of hallways, each one seemingly longer than the last. With every turn, Isabella’s anxiety grew, twisting h
