Mariko's POV
I sat in the sterile hospital waiting room, my hands trembling as I clutched a crumpled tissue. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed incessantly, casting an eerie glow on the pale green walls. The ticking of the clock on the wall echoed through the empty space, each passing second feeling like an eternity.
Maddie, the love of my life, was inside that room, hooked up to machines and monitors. I couldn't shake the image of her unconscious body, cold and lifeless, lying in the bathtub. I can't believe that I had found her like that. Panic had gripped my heart as I dialed 911, desperately hoping that I would make it in time.
The hospital staff had rushed her into the emergency room as soon as we arrived. Now, all I could do was wait and pray that she would be okay. The minute
