41: DOCTOR BLAKE NELSON

PEBBLES' POV

I sat in the waiting area, glowering at the black-framed clock that was perched on the wall to my left. My eyes scrutinized the second hand, which seemed to taunt me by moving oh so slowly. I peeled my eyes away from the time, silently vowing to myself not to look at it anymore as it was only elevating my impatience—but who was I kidding? I fixed my hands on my knees to stop them from shaking every five seconds, with my eyes still glued to the face of the clock. I knew I told Bradley earlier that I wasn't nervous, but the moment I stepped through the bubblegum-pink door, my heart rate escalated. I worked my palms to collect the pellets of sweat from my forehead, and then I wiped them on my jeans. I then rested my palms once more on my trembling knees.

The sound of a door creaking caught my awareness. My head spun so fast, I was positive my neck would be sore for days to come. A tall, slender lady in her mid-thirties half-stepped from the opened door. Her pretty green bug-