Dr. Naomi, observing Selina's expression, nodded once without pressing further.
"That's perfectly fine. This is your space. You decide who's part of it."
Dr Naomi stood to prepare for the ultrasound.
"We'll take a look now," she said. "You can lie back for me and just lift your blouse enough so I can scan your lower belly. It won't take long."
Selina obeyed in silence. The paper beneath her crinkled as she stood up and headed toward the long, narrow bed.
She lay flat on the bed, her pulse thundering in her ears, aware that one of her dreams was partially fulfilled: becoming a mother and experiencing this stage of life.
The cold gel made her flinch slightly, and her breath hitched as the device pressed down.
A quiet filled the room, punctuated only by the soft clicking of buttons and the hum of the machine.
Then, unexpectedly, a sound emerged—quick, rhythmic, like a fluttering bird trapped inside a chest.
