The Cost of One

The clinic was called Lineage, which Marcus had pointed out was either reassuring or sinister depending on your mood, and Petra had said she didn't think it was either, she thought it was just a word they had tested with focus groups, and Marcus had said that was the sinister interpretation, and they had agreed not to discuss it further on the drive over. The waiting room was calming in the specific way that expensive medical spaces are calming: everything slightly too soft, the lighting the color of late afternoon regardless of actual time, the receptionist trained to make eye contact at the exact duration that conveys warmth without expectation. They were given water in heavy glasses and a printed card that described the day's schedule, which Petra read and Marcus folded into thirds and put in his jacket pocket without reading. Their consultant was a woman named Dr. Shin, who had the efficient kindness of someone who did difficult work and had decided long ago that difficult work…