One for Another
an excerpt

The hospital walls shone against the florescent lights, illuminating every single drop of blood as Sam followed them with her eyes. She knew that soon someone would come and clean it up, but for the moment the faint trail of crimson was the only link to her brother she had left. She had been with him ever since the shooting, holding his hand in the ambulance and following him as they had wheeled him to the ER. She’d promised him she would stay with him, but they’d pushed her away at the doors and told her to wait. Sneaking in was her first response, but a rather intimidating looking male nurse had not-so-gently reminded her the section was for authorized personnel only. The clock on the wall ticked along, minute after minute, hour after hour. She’d been there waiting for three hours, twenty seven minutes and fourteen seconds when a doctor finally came out to speak to her. His face was set, frown lines marring his forehead, his lips pulled in a downward curve. Things didn’t look good.