The waiting room was too quiet.
Alexander sat still, his elbows resting on his knees, hands clenched together. He stared at the floor, not saying a word. His chest felt heavy, and the red light above the operating room never stopped glowing.
William couldn't sit. He kept walking back and forth, his steps echoing in the empty hall.
Every few minutes, he'd stop and glance at the door, then start pacing again. He looked like he was holding his breath the whole time.
Vernice sat on the side, hands clasped together, lips moving in silent prayer. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but she didn't stop. She kept praying.
It had been hours. Six painful hours since their father, Rock, was taken into surgery.
William finally spoke, his voice low and tense. "I shouldn't have let him do this."
Alexander didn't look up. "He would've done it anyway. You know him."
William shook his head. "Yeah, but what if he doesn't come out?"
