《The River's Echo》 Chapter 1: The Diagnosis The air in the examination room was still and antiseptic, a stark contrast to the muted chaos of the hospital corridors. Dr. Kim Min-ju held the X-ray up to the lightbox, the ghostly image of a human rib cage glowing in the dimness. She pointed with a steady finger, her nail trimmed short and practical. “You see this slight shadow here, Comrade Colonel?” she said, her voice low and even. “It is not a tumor. It is a constriction of the pericardium, the sac around your heart. It is rare, but treatable.” Colonel Pak, a man whose uniform seemed to strain against his bulk, leaned forward. His presence sucked the oxygen from the room. “Treatable? You are certain, Doctor?” “With medication and rest, yes,” Min-ju replied, meeting his gaze without flinch…