Chapter 138

LACEY

I don’t go in for my appointment with any hope, but somehow even that manages to disappoint.

Dr. Halprin sits across from me, kind eyes hidden behind those square glasses that have delivered the same verdict a hundred times over. She doesn’t even open my chart right away—just folds her hands on the desk like she already knows the weight of what she’s about to repeat.

“Your bloodwork came back,” she starts gently, voice soft like she’s afraid a louder tone might shatter me. “And it’s the same as last month. Your FSH levels are still very high. Your ovarian reserve is… extremely low.”

I bite down on the inside of my cheek. The words have worn grooves into me by now, hollowing me out, but they still find fresh places to hurt.

“So that means…?” I force out, though I already know.

“It means the chances of retrieving a viable egg of your own are almost nonexistent.” She pauses, giving me a chance to absorb it, but I don’t want her silence. Silence