Ruth could have walked there from the store in ten minutes. Driving from her house it took just that. As she pulled into an empty spot in the Emergency Room parking lot in the dark, it all felt surreal to her. She got out of her car and the bright lights, the bustle of people behind the desks as the double glass doors slid open to the ER were suddenly so reassuring that Ruth felt silly. Maybe she had panicked. The sensation was still there but it was probably indigestion, just like that last time. Surprisingly, there were just a few people in the waiting room. She found a chair in the corner and took a long, shaky breath, deciding she’d just sit for a bit and see how she felt. Who would know she wasn’t just waiting for someone? If she really was having a heart attack—God forbid—she was already here. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have to waste time or money that she couldn’t afford. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Mrs. Hardaway?” Ruth opened her eyes and turned.
