When Dr. Lawson finally returned, the gravity of her expression left no room for misinterpretation. I felt the floor drop beneath me as she spoke, the words landing like bricks on my chest. “Mrs. Johnson, the tests have revealed something unexpected. There are significant abnormalities.”
I could barely breathe. “What does that mean?”
“It means that whilst you are indeed pregnant, there are potential complications regarding the nature of the fetus. We need to discuss your options.”
The weight of her words crashed down on me. I could feel Michelle’s hand tense around mine, and my heart raced as I fought against the tsunami of fear threatening to drown me. “What… what are you saying?”
Dr. Lawson took a deep breath, her deep-set gaze unwavering. “We believe the pregnancy may not be viable. There are developmental issues that we must address immediately.”
“Viable?” I echoed, the word tasting like ash on my tongue. “What kind of issues?”
