In the clinic's sterile waiting room, Kendra sat rigidly, her gaze fixed on the examination room's door. The puppy, wrapped in a small blanket, rested uneasily in her lap. Kendra's mind was a whirlwind of anxiety and fear, each passing second stretching into eternity. The muffled sounds of the clinic, the distant barks, and the occasional footsteps did little to ease her tension. She clutched the puppy tighter, whispering words of comfort more to herself than to the animal.