It stretched all the way to the front door.

On the shoe cabinet by the entrance sat a prenatal exam folder, soaked through by the storm.

The folder was unsealed. Its contents had slipped out.

A single ultrasound photo.

The toys slipped from Tony's hands and clattered to the floor.

His fingers trembled as he picked up the blood-smeared photo.

On the back, written in neat, delicate handwriting:

Honey, the doctor says it's the twin boys you've always wanted.

Tony's mind went blank. A cold wave of dread crawled up from his gut.

He stared at those words, eyes bloodshot.

He tore out of the house like a man possessed, didn't grab an umbrella, just threw himself into the car.

The car screamed through the downpour and skidded to a stop in front of the emergency wing at City Central Hospital.

Tony burst through the doors and slammed his hands on the nurses' station counter.

"My wife! Her name is Flora Fox! Where is she?!"