AT LATE EVENING
ISABELLA
The clinic sat at the far edge of town, tucked behind rows of blooming cherry trees that made the street look like it had been dusted with pink snow. It was smaller than I expected, two stories, modern glass windows softened by ivy climbing the walls. My palms were damp against the steering wheel as I parked.
"This is it, Isabella. You wanted a new start, now take it."I whispered to myself.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of lavender and something clean, like polished steel. A wall of windows let the sunlight pour in, making the space feel almost too bright, too open. I clutched my purse tighter, heels clicking against the polished tile as I approached the front desk. The receptionist looked up with a practiced, calming smile. She was sleek and professional, hair tucked into a low bun, her pearl earrings glinting in the light.
"Good morning." She said. "Welcome to Lifebloom. Name, please?"
"Isabella Hart." I managed, my voice catching on the last syllable. "I… I have an appointment."
Her fingers danced over the keyboard.
"Yes, Ms. Hart. First consultation with Dr. Mercer. You're checked in. Please, have a seat, he'll see you shortly."She said.
I nodded and slipped into one of the pale green chairs arranged neatly in the waiting area. Everything about the room screamed serenity, the soft instrumental music humming through hidden speakers, the vases of cherry blossoms set delicately on every table. Even the magazines stacked in careful piles seemed chosen for comfort. Parenting Today, New Mother, Hope & Healing. But serenity couldn't calm the wild thrum of my pulse. My foot tapped against the floor, restless, nervous. This was the step that mattered.
"Ms. Hart?"A voice called my surname.
I looked up. A nurse in pale blue scrubs stood by the door, smiling.
"Dr. Mercer is ready for you."A nurse said.
My knees wobbled as I stood, following her down a hallway that smelled faintly of antiseptic and blossoms. She led me to a softly lit office, less clinical than I expected. There were shelves of books, framed certificates, and one enormous window overlooking the cherry trees outside. Behind the desk sat a man in a tailored suit, not a lab coat. His hair was dark, streaked with silver at the temples, his features sharp and composed. He rose as I entered, extending his hand.
"Ms. Hart." He said, his voice smooth, commanding in a way that set a strange shiver down my spine. "I'm Dr. Mercer. Please, have a seat. Let's talk about your future."
I sank into the chair across from him, heart hammering. For the first time in years, I felt like I was standing at the threshold of something entirely new, terrifying, dangerous, and possibly miraculous. Dr. Mercer's handshake was warm, steady, but lingered just a fraction too long, like he was memorizing me through my skin. His office didn't smell like paper or dust the way most doctor's rooms did instead, it carried a faint, metallic tang beneath the lavender, like steel
polished too clean.
"Please." He said smoothly, motioning for me to sit. His eyes, a dark, unreadable gray stayed locked on me as if I was the only person in the world worth seeing.
I sat, clutching my purse like a shield.
"Thank you for seeing me."I said.
He tilted his head slightly, studying me with a calm that bordered on invasive.
"At Lifebloom, we see everyone. That's what makes us unique."He explained.
There was something about the way he said it that made my skin prickle, though his tone was warm, reassuring. He opened a sleek leather folder, sliding a brochure across the desk. The pages gleamed with photos of glowing women, babies swaddled in blankets, couples crying happy tears. The words Success Rate: 90% stamped bold across the bottom. My eyes widened.
"Ninety percent?"I asked.
"That's correct." He said, folding his hands on the desk. "We are the leading clinic in the country, though we keep that quiet. We prefer discretion to fame."
Something about the way he smiled, too even, too controlled, made me wonder what 'quiet' really meant.
"Most clinics… they're nowhere near that." I said slowly. "I've researched. I've read the numbers. Thirty percent, maybe forty on a good day."
"True." He agreed softly. "But Lifebloom isn't like other clinics. We do not fail."
The words landed heavy in the air. Absolute. Certain. Almost… threatening. He leaned forward, his eyes catching the light just so.
"If you come to us, Ms. Hart, you will walk out a mother. That I promise."He said.
My stomach flipped. That was everything I wanted, the very thing I'd prayed for. But something in his tone made it feel less like comfort and more like a binding contract. I tried to laugh lightly, breaking the tension.
"That sounds almost too good to be true."I whispered.
His lips curved, but it wasn't quite a smile.
"Some truths are stronger than doubt."He said.
I shifted in my chair, suddenly aware of the soft hum in the walls, like machinery working somewhere deep in the building. Almost like a heartbeat. Dr. Mercer's gaze sharpened, catching every flicker of unease in my face.
"You want a baby, Ms. Hart. You came here because you know, deep down this is where it begins. And you are ready, aren't you?"He asked.
I swallowed, my fingers tightening on the edge of the chair. The answer should have been simple. Yes. Of course. That's why I was here. But the room felt too bright, the silence too heavy, his promise too absolute.
"Yes. I'm ready."I whispered.
His expression softened into something almost triumphant.
"Good." He murmured. "Then let us begin."
I shifted in the chair, fingers fidgeting with the strap of my purse.
"I thought…" I hesitated, embarrassed by how naive it sounded. "I always thought there was just one way. You know. The usual. Try, wait, hope. Or… science."
Dr. Mercer's eyes glimmered faintly, the corner of his mouth tugging in what might have been amusement.
"That is what most people believe, Ms. Hart. One path. Linear. Narrow. Fertility clinics out there only offer a single road, medication, procedures, long waits, and low odds. But Lifebloom… we have options."He said.
The way he said the word made a shiver creep down my spine.
"Options?" I asked cautiously.
"Yes." He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. "Our work is based on more than chance. For us, fertility is not just a matter of biology. It is chemistry. Timing. Compatibility. Energy. The body, the mind, the bloodline, all must align. Only then does life begin."
His words felt rehearsed, but also strangely… intimate. As if he wasn't just describing a medical process, but something older. Something I wasn't supposed to question.
"Bloodline?" I echoed. "What does that mean?"
He studied me for a long moment before answering.
"Simply that no two matches are the same. That what works for one woman may not work for another. We tailor everything, from the smallest hormone to the most delicate pairing. That is why we succeed where others fail."He said.
Pairing. The word stuck to me like burrs, clinging uncomfortably.
"So it's not just about…" I faltered, heat rising in my cheeks. "Science?"
"No." His voice was soft, but firm. "Science alone leaves too much to chance. Here, nothing is left to chance."
The air in the room seemed to thicken. A faint hum pressed at the edges of my hearing again, like machinery behind the walls, or maybe it was just my pulse racing. I forced a smile, even as unease curled low in my stomach.
"That sounds… reassuring."I muttered.
His gaze sharpened, gray eyes holding mine too long.
"It should. Because you will have what you came for, Ms. Hart. Lifebloom does not fail."He repeated.
The words thrilled me, even as something in the way he said them sent goosebumps racing up my arms. Let's hope I did not made mistake by visiting this place.