“Doctor,” Marcus said eagerly, rubbing his hands together, “tell us about my son. Strong heartbeat? Big shoulders? He’s going to carry the Henderson name with pride.”
Dr. Vance, a seasoned obstetrician, moved the ultrasound wand across Penelope’s belly. The room was filled with excited chatter at first. Then silence.
The doctor’s expression changed. He moved the wand again. Then again. His eyes flicked between the monitor and the medical chart.
The chatter died completely.
Penelope’s smile faltered. “Doctor? Is everything okay?”
Dr. Vance cleared his throat, his voice professional but heavy.
“Ms. Penelope… Mr. Henderson… I’m afraid there’s been a significant development. The fetus is healthy, but… it’s not a boy.”
A collective gasp filled the room.
Marcus blinked. “What? Run it again. It has to be a boy. We did the gender test —”
“It’s not just that,” Dr. Vance continued carefully. “There are… complications. The baby shows signs of a rare genetic condition. We’ll need further testing, but based on this scan and the blood work, it’s unlikely the child will survive to full term. I’m very sorry.”
The room exploded.
