May 7, 2025

Merriweather Medical Research Foundation,
Fredericksburg’s outskirts, Virginia

Amelia read the text with one eye, flat on her back, the phone held above her face because even at minimum brightness the screen was doing unkind things to her head.

Your results are in. Come in this morning — I need to show you in person. We’ll talk next steps.

She read it twice. Then put the phone face-down on the nightstand and stared at the ceiling.

Next steps. That hesitation she could feel even in the phr...