Member-only story
The Machine
Part Dream Maker, Part Heart Breaker
Trigger Warning: Pregnancy and Infant loss
This machine is a dream maker.
This machine is a heartbreaker.
It can show you the answers to your prayers.
It can show you your worst nightmares.
The gentle whoosh, whoosh, whoosh is music to your ears.
The lack of it is the realization of your worst fears.
The tech smiles as she finds your baby’s sex.
The tech freezes as her face reads what she suspects.
From the machine, you are handed black and white photos.
From the machine, you watch as time slows.
You are wished congratulations and a warm smile.
You are offered condolences and left in an empty room for a while.
In the exam room, the doctor talks about delivery options and due dates.
In the exam room, the doctors talk of unwanted surgeries and miscarriage occurrence rates.
You walk out of the door thinking of how to tell family and can’t say you’ve ever been so happy.
You walk out the door thinking of how to tell family and can’t say you’ve ever been so unhappy.
