A security guard appeared outside her door, posture firm, expression unreadable. He didn’t speak or move, simply standing as a barrier. His presence wasn’t comforting. Guards weren’t assigned without reason. Sandra’s stomach dropped, understanding this was no longer a routine procedure but something anchored in suspicion or danger.
Staff kept exchanging glances down the hallway, their movements more deliberate now. Whenever Sandra tried to catch someone’s eye, they looked away too quickly. The wordless tension felt suffocating, wrapping around her like a tightening net. She sensed they were preparing for something, bracing for an outcome she couldn’t foresee.