Normal

The sonogram looked normal. Like the one on my sister’s fridge—same gorgeous cloud pushing through grainy gray, promising something of everything. The same measurements in that font that says ‘safe from disappointment’.
The tech smiled. "Perfect," he said. Handed me the printout, still warm.
I put it on my refrigerator, over my next appointment card.
Two weeks later, the doctor used different words: "Missed”, she said, “Spontaneous”, which sounded like I'd slept through my appointment instead of showing up with something no longer there.
The image is now in my wallet.
Sometimes I see it when I'm paying for groceries.

J.M.C. Kane