Hours slunk by like heavy clouds, each dragging Derrick’s hopes to precarious edges. He nearly nodded off, jolting awake whenever his chin dipped. The final approach of footsteps in the hallway felt unreal, as though he were trapped in a slow-motion nightmare. Then the vet appeared.
Derrick stood too quickly, head spinning with fatigue. The veterinarian wore a faint smile, lines of relief etched on his features. “We did it,” he murmured, voice hushed. Derrick’s chest seized, unsure if he’d heard correctly. The vet clarified: Rusty had survived the procedure, clinging to life despite the odds.