She glanced at her watch, biting down in frustration. Only seven minutes had passed. It felt like a lifetime. The shadows stretched long across the road, the hum of distant traffic mocking her with its normalcy. Nothing felt normal anymore.
The dog let out a sharp bark, then whimpered, pawing once at the blanket. The movement stirred the bundle, shifting it just enough for another squeak to escape. Tina’s body jolted. It was alive and seemed to be clinging to life.
Her breath fogged in the cooling air, each exhale trembling. She couldn’t look away now, couldn’t force herself back into the car. Her whole world had shrunk to that ditch, dog, blanket, and the unbearable suspense of not knowing.
Every second gnawed at her nerves. She shifted from foot to foot, phone clutched in her hand like a lifeline. Where were they? What was taking them so long? She swallowed hard, eyes glued to the quivering blanket, certain that time itself was running out.
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