'Female, twenty years old. A female voice exclaimed, "Acute appendicitis," as I opened the door. Our records show that you should report to Operating Room2 at 5:20.
The sound of receding footsteps coincided with a brief knock, and the heavy wooden door to my room was shoved open before I could respond. The doctor's arrival caused my mom to sit up straight and perk up. A mere two steps inside the room, and he turned around to examine me.
My lungs instantly emptied of all their contents.
Carl stopped moving, a look of shock and dismay on his face.
Carl's wide-eyed stare travelled from me to my mom to the chalkboard displaying my vitals next to my hospital bed. He apparently needed to take in the whole scope of the situation before it could sink in.
My mother, who had never shown any sign of happiness at seeing doctors before, greeted Dr. Johnson with a bright smile.
He walked in rapid strides to where I was lying in bed. Seeing the terror in his eyes made me swerve away from him.