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Sophie covered her ears.
“Stop!”
A radiologist entered with Dr. Ortiz. They spoke quietly while reviewing the images.
Finally, Dr. Ortiz came to the bedside.
“There is no pregnancy visible inside Sophie’s uterus.”
The air left my lungs so quickly that I nearly collapsed.
“No baby?”
“We do not see one.”
Eric did not look relieved.
“What about an ectopic pregnancy?”
“We examined the areas around both ovaries. We found no gestational sac, suspicious mass, or internal bleeding.”
“Could it be too early?”
Dr. Ortiz hesitated.
“In very early pregnancy, an ultrasound may not show anything. But Sophie’s hormone level, her examination, and the appearance of her reproductive organs do not fit together the way we would expect.”
I pulled Sophie against me.
“So Daniel is innocent.”
“The medical findings do not indicate an identifiable pregnancy,” she said carefully. “The investigation and the medical diagnosis are separate matters.”
Eric seized on her caution.
“You still can’t rule it out.”
Dr. Ortiz looked at him.
“We cannot explain the hCG yet. That is not the same as accusing someone without evidence.”
For the first time since he arrived, Eric went silent.
While we waited for transport, Sophie asked to use the bathroom for the third time in less than an hour.
“She drank a lot for the ultrasound,” I said.
“I’m always thirsty now,” Sophie replied. “Even at school.”
Dr. Ortiz stopped near the door.
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