The afternoon sun casts long shadows across the room.
The phone rests heavily in my hand, a lifeline and a threat.
I’ve rehearsed what I’ll say, how I’ll react, but uncertainty knots my stomach.
When the call finally comes, the ringtone shatters the silence.
My heart pounds as I answer, trying to steady my voice.
“Hello?”
The voice on the other end is calm, professional.
They confirm my identity, a procedure that feels both routine and invasive.
Then, the words I’ve been waiting for: “The test results are in.”
I hold my breath, time slowing to a crawl.
