“…I’m going to need to ask you all to step outside for a moment.”
The air in the room shifted instantly.
At first, no one moved.
Diego let out a small, awkward laugh, like a man trying to brush off a misunderstanding.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, tightening his grip on Allison’s hand.
The doctor didn’t answer immediately.
That was the first crack.
Because doctors—especially in places like this, where money bought comfort and reassurance—always answered right away when everything was fine.
But she didn’t.
She just looked at the screen again.
Then at Allison.
Then at Diego.
And something in her expression made the entire room go still.
“I need to speak with the patient privately,” she repeated, this time firmer.
His mother frowned.
“Doctor, we’re family,” she said, almost offended. “We’re here to celebrate—”
“This isn’t a request,” the doctor cut in quietly.
That was the second crack.
The kind you couldn’t ignore.
Sophia’s smile disappeared first.
Then the aunt holding flowers slowly lowered them.
Diego hesitated.
For a brief second, his eyes flickered—not with concern, but with something sharper.
Fear.
Not for Allison.
Not for the baby.
For himself.
“Alright,” he said finally, forcing a calm tone. “We’ll step out.”
He leaned down and kissed Allison’s forehead.
“It’s probably nothing,” he whispered.
But his voice didn’t sound convincing.
Not even to him.
They all filed out slowly.
The door closed.
And the silence in the hallway was thick.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
No one spoke.
No one laughed anymore.
The celebration had evaporated, replaced by something cold and unfamiliar.
At minute twelve, the door opened.
The doctor stepped out.
But she wasn’t smiling.
And Allison…
Allison wasn’t behind her.
Diego stepped forward immediately.
“What’s going on?” he demanded.
The doctor looked directly at him.
And for a moment, she didn’t say anything.
As if she was deciding how much damage her next sentence would cause.
“Mr. Rivera,” she said carefully, “I need you to come with me.”
His mother stiffened.
“Why only him?”
The doctor didn’t respond.
That was the third crack.
Diego followed her back inside.
