As the sleek black car screeched to a halt in front of the hospital, the tension was palpable. Christopher flung open the door and stepped out, his coat whipping behind him in the cool night air. The sharp click of his shoes on the pavement echoed his determination, his every step radiating authority. Vivian stumbled out behind him, still trying to piece together the weight of the situation, her pulse pounding in her ears.
The hospital entrance was a blur of harsh fluorescent lights and hurried figures in scrubs.
The moment Christopher Cooper stepped into the hospital lobby, the boy's parents rushed toward him like drowning souls clutching for a lifeline. The father, a tall man with broad shoulders now hunched in despair, grabbed Christopher’s arm with trembling hands. His eyes were red-
