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Rina

"Rina Smith?"

I straightenat the nurse behind the desk and wondering if she recognizes me by now After all, it's my third time here at the clinic

My stoe ball of nerves My first two visits were easy—I just had to speak to the doctor about what I want That much wasn't hard I want a baby Then I had to submit my employment history, proof of my capabilities to take care of said baby, not toattached to this treately successful legal career, and I'm due for another promotion next quarter when my boss and mentor retires and names me as her successor My life is completely on track in every way By the time I'm forty, just twelve years fro every dream I've ever had

Except one

I've been kind of busy, between killing it at work, keeping up with allon hikes on the weekends–I haven't had a lot of time to date

Okay, so I've had zero ti-tero Well, o through anything like that again

But who needs love anyway? At least the romantic kind I don't need a partner—I loveto have

What could possibly go wrong? Me, raising a kid all on e, an oops baby froht stand as never involved inher career as the editor-in-chief of the local newspaper, and ere happy as hell I never needed another parent ina dad I had Morandparents, I had my aunts and uncles And my baby will have the same

Just as soon as I get through this procedure

As long as I can be as strong asand involved enough to take up the space that most people need two parents for

There go those nerves again, rioting in my stomach

I take a deep breath as I stride up to the counter at the IVF clinic to begin filling out the last round of paperwork

"Excited?" the nurse asks me with a polite smile

"And nervous," I ad a smile back

"That's perfectly natural But you’re ready to go for this?"

"Of course"

"Well, let's just wait for your partner to get here, and then we can get started," she says, still s

I bite ut only worsens "Um"

"What's thelate?" The nurse frowns

I wince Clearly she has me confused with sole"

"Oh! My goodness, I'm so sorry," the nurse replies, all in a rush that al to be sorry for

I hate the expression on her face The poor you look

I want a baby I haven't met a man I'd want to reproduce with And thanks to modern medicine, I don't need a man for it, I can just couy froet on with my life

So why do I feel like so? Like there’s a hole where half of this equation ought to be?

I ignore the sensation Push it right down to the botto else Reuy? He dumped me drunkenly at a St Patrick’s Day party, in front of all ourlonger

I don’t need that I don’t need a guy to co, to mock me or belittle me I can do this on my own Just like Mom I ball up my fists and keep that fake smile plastered on my face

"It's all right," I' to the nurse when the doors to the clinic burst open A woh, out of breath, her eyes wild She brushes in front of me, and I'm about to protest, but when I take one look at her panicked expression, I let her through It ency

"Please, you have to help me," the woman shouts to the nurse at the desk

The nurse frowns and glances from the woman's face to the stack of papers in front of her With a shuffle, I see her move my file aside and open the one beneath it "Mrs Henry?"

"Yes, yes"

"I'm sorry, I had you down for half an hour later," the nurse is saying This must be the woman she confused me with "Can you wait a moment while I—"

"There's a man," the woman, Mrs

Henry, interrupts, "in the parking lot My husband is still out there arguing with hirab me, I"

The nurse is back on her feet in an instant "Please, Mrs Henry, have a seat, I'll call our security team"

My eyes go wide as the nurse reaches for the phone Just h the clinic doors and out into the parking lot Through the exterior door, when it swings open, I spy twothe other, with both of his ar held back looks wild, his hair a mess, clothes askew, as he screams toward the open door

"That's my child! I don't want her to have my child!"

The doors slaet an earful of what he just yelled She collapses in tears, and I stand aside as the nurse rushes to embrace her

"It's all right," the nurse coos, rubbing Mrs Henry's back as she continues to sob "It's going to be okay We'll take care of this"

"It's the donor, isn't it?" Mrs Henry wails "I recognize him From the brochure"