Mattie paced back and forth in the dimly lit room, her anxiety growing with each passing minute.
It was late at night, and no one had returned from the hospital. She had a bad feeling about this, and she needed to get to the bottom of it quickly.
Just as she was starting to lose hope, her phone rang, shrill in the silence. She snatched it up, her heart racing.
"Hello, Mum," she cried out, her voice trembling.
Tonia was immediately alert to Mattie's distress in her voice. "What's wrong, my dear? I told you not to go to him, but you refused. Are you…"
Mattie cut her off, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Your sister is back!" she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tonia's tone changed from concern to shock. "What? How did you know? You don't even know her."
Mattie's eyes darted around the room as if searching for an escape.
