Grace Attempts to Distract
In the examination room, Grace tried to steer the children's thoughts back toward normal life in an effort to ease the tension. She asked Emma softly, "Did you finish your homework today?" hoping to shift their focus. Emma nodded without looking up, her eyes still fixed on Nix. Alex absently fiddled with his phone, clearly too engrossed to respond. Grace managed a weak smile. "Maybe we can take Nix for a walk later," she suggested. But her voice lacked conviction. The weight of uncertainty pressed down upon them. Every attempt to change the subject failed, as their thoughts were constantly drawn back to what might be happening behind that closed door.
The Veterinarian Returns
When Dr. Morgan finally returned, his face was visibly pale. He avoided making eye contact with the children, looking instead at Grace and Tom. "Could we step into the next room to talk?" he asked, his voice low and trembling. Grace’s heart sank. Whatever he had discovered, it was not going to be ordinary news. Tom stood up and nodded, struggling to maintain his composure. "Of course," he replied. They followed Dr. Morgan into a smaller office next door, while the children watched them leave in silence. Grace felt the knot of anxiety in her stomach tighten with every step.
The door closed behind them, cutting off any comforting view of the outside world. Whatever answers they were about to receive, she feared they might change everything.





