After the phone call, Catarina remained in the waiting room for hours, sitting in one of the hospital's uncomfortable chairs, her eyes fixed on the emergency room doors. Time seemed to stand still, and her concern for her cousin weighed heavily on her heart.

It was already past midnight when her uncle finally appeared in the hallway. His tired face and worn expression revealed the toll the night had taken on him.

“So?” Catarina asked, quickly getting to her feet. “What did the doctors say?”

Her