They went to the Rebirth Clinic together a month later, not because they were in a hurry, but because they were ready. The clinic in Helior was nothing like the cold places people used to fear in old stories. It was quiet, almost serene, with soft walls, luminous plants, and private rooms for couples to speak with genetic architects who specialized in shared parenthood. The doctor who met them was a middle aged woman named Dr. Shen, calm and direct, with a kind face and a way of speaking that made hard decisions feel manageable.
