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.