The Wait

While others anxiously occupied chairs, their faces etched with concern, Roarke kept pacing back and forth, digging holes on the ground with his heels the more he paced. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a clinical glow on the worried expressions that filled the room. Glancing at the swinging doors with each passing moment. Tori, Rena and Becca huddled together, sharing whispered conversations, their eyes flickering toward the entrance as if willing it to reveal positive news.

Tension lingered in the air, heavy with the collective weight of worry. Roarke's parents exchanged glances, their clasped hands betraying the anxiety coursing through them. The rest of the brothers sat close, offering silent support through shared looks of concern. As the minutes stretched into an agonizing wait, the room echoed with the occasional sigh or stifled sob, underscoring the gravity of the situation.