The sterile white walls, accompanied by the potent scent of disinfectant, medicine, and sickness, overwhelmed Jocelyn’s senses as she made her way down the hospital corridor toward her mother’s room.
She passed several nurses who smiled at her, some out of formality but a few from recognition born from years growing up in the same small town. One or two might even have been her friends at some point in her life. But all that had changed years ago.
It was midmorning, so the place was bustling with activity. Twice, Jocelyn found herself stepping aside to make way for the healthcare personnel hurrying past her, responding to urgent calls of emergencies in one room or the other. The atmosphere gave her goosebumps. Being there reminded her of how fragile life was. As though she needed a remin
