Does Not
/We were walking into the Children’s Museum when my phone rang. It wasn’t a number I had saved but it looked familiar. As soon as I realized who the number belonged to, the phone stopped ringing. It was the Genetics Clinic. The call was about Laine.
My heart was racing. I couldn’t call them back now. We were entering the museum. Conor was ready to play. I looked down at Laine in the stroller. I had to call the clinic back. I couldn’t stand not knowing for one more second.
I burst into tears as the genetic counselor read Laine’s results. Keith was staring at me. He didn’t know who I was talking to. I started nodding. I gave Keith a thumbs up. He still didn’t understand who I was on the phone with or why I was crying. I pointed at Laine. I gave Keith another thumbs up. The genetic counselor was still talking to me but I didn’t hear anything else she said. I wanted to hang up. I wanted to scream. I was shaking.
Laine does not have Fragile X Syndrome. She is not even a carrier.
I called my mom. I could barely get the words out. My mom couldn't hear me over the sound of kids playing in the museum.
“LAINE DOES NOT HAVE FRAGILE X SYNDROME.”
“Does? Or doesn’t?”
“DOESN’T!”
“Does? Or doesn’t?”
“DOES NOT.”
“Does not?”
“DOES NOT.”
“Does not!!”
“DOES NOT!!!”
For the first time in nearly 5 months I felt like I could breathe.
XX, Bev