No Such Thing As A Hollywood Ending

chapter 49

Henry, Lucy, and Jessica sat in the waiting room of the pediatrician's office, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. Jessica, quiet as usual, was nestled in Henry's arms. Lucy, still shaken by the events of that morning, kept glancing at Jessica with a mixture of worry and disbelief. Babies didn't talk—especially not newborns. She hadn't even begun to process how strange everything had become.

The doctor, a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and a calm demeanor, stepped into the waiting room and beckoned them inside. Henry stood up, carrying Jessica, and Lucy followed closely behind. As they entered the examination room, the doctor introduced himself with a friendly smile.

"Dr. Davis," he said, shaking both Henry and Lucy's hands. "I understand you've been a little concerned about your daughter's health?"

Lucy nodded, her anxiety clear in her expression. "We just... things have been really strange," she began, her voice shaky. "Jessica, she... she talks."

Dr. Davis raised an eyebrow, but his expression remained professional. He was clearly used to hearing all kinds of concerns from worried parents. "I see. Well, it's natural for new parents to be worried about their baby's health, especially in complicated family situations. But most of the time, children are perfectly healthy—they're just adjusting to being outside of the womb. Their little bodies are exposed to things we don't even realize are there, and it can be overwhelming."

Lucy exchanged a glance with Henry, not quite sure how to explain what had been happening without sounding completely ridiculous. She opened her mouth to say something, but Henry cut in.

"We understand that, Doctor," Henry said. "But it's not just that she's quiet or seems different. Jessica... she actually talks. Like, full sentences."

Dr. Davis blinked, the professional calm slipping for just a second. "Talks?"

Henry nodded. "Yeah, she asked us this morning why we took her to see her biological mom. She doesn't cry or fuss. She just... talks."

The doctor's skeptical gaze flickered briefly, but he maintained his professionalism. "Let's take a look, shall we? I'll run some standard tests to make sure everything is okay."

He gestured for Henry to place Jessica on the examination table. Henry did so carefully, the little girl watching everything with an almost unnatural attentiveness. Dr. Davis began the usual checks—measuring her heart rate, listening to her breathing, and checking her reflexes. Everything appeared normal.

Lucy shifted nervously beside Henry, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She still couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong, even if the doctor seemed confident that things were fine.

Dr. Davis, finishing his initial examination, straightened up and turned to Henry and Lucy. "So far, everything looks normal. Jessica's heart rate is good, her lungs sound clear, and her reflexes are perfectly in line with what we'd expect for a newborn. She seems to be a healthy baby."

Lucy felt a small wave of relief, but it was immediately dashed when Jessica, lying calmly on the table, suddenly spoke.

"I am completely okay," Jessica said, her tiny voice clear and precise. "I really don't understand why they are worrying about me."

Dr. Davis froze mid-motion, his eyes widening in shock. He stared at Jessica for a long moment, as if waiting for some logical explanation to appear. But there was none. Jessica had spoken, just as Henry and Lucy had said.

The doctor's calm demeanor cracked. "That... that's not possible," he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. He knelt down again, looking closely at Jessica, his medical training struggling to catch up with the reality in front of him.

Henry and Lucy watched as Dr. Davis blinked rapidly, regaining some of his composure. "I understand now why you were so concerned," he said, his voice low but steady. "This is... well, it's certainly not something we see in newborns—or at all. But let's finish these tests. Just to be sure."

Dr. Davis went on to run more detailed tests, checking Jessica's neurological responses, doing a scan of her brain, and taking blood samples. Throughout it all, Jessica remained unnervingly quiet and calm, her eyes focused on the doctor with what seemed like understanding.

After about an hour of testing, Dr. Davis finally stepped back from the examination table. He removed his gloves, rubbing the back of his neck as he processed everything. "The tests all confirm what I said earlier," he explained. "Jessica is, in every way we can measure, a perfectly healthy baby. Physically, everything is normal."

Lucy felt her heart racing again. "But... but how do you explain the talking?"

Dr. Davis shook his head slowly, still clearly grappling with what he had witnessed. "I honestly don't know. I've never encountered anything like this before. Babies, especially newborns, don't have the cognitive development to speak—let alone understand complex family dynamics. But Jessica... well, I can't explain it. There doesn't seem to be any medical explanation."

Henry ran a hand through his hair, feeling a mix of relief and confusion. "So, there's nothing wrong with her?"

"Nothing physically," Dr. Davis said. "In fact, she's quite remarkable. But I would suggest that, given her... unique abilities, you might want to consult with someone who specializes in child development or even something more... well, unconventional."

Lucy stared at the doctor, her heart sinking. "So, you're saying you don't know what's going on?"

Dr. Davis sighed, shaking his head again. "I'm afraid not. But I don't think Jessica is in any immediate danger. She's healthy. Just... very, very special. there is someone who might be able to help you, he studies anomalies all the time, and he is an extremely talented scientist. But I would suggest having him come to see you because some of his other projects can be kind of-let's just say not safe for children to be around."

"we will take that into consideration."

As they left the doctor's office, Jessica now asleep in Henry's arms, Lucy and Henry exchanged glances. They were relieved that Jessica was healthy, but the mystery of her ability to talk lingered heavily between them. Something wasn't right, and they both knew it. But for now, they had no answers—just more questions. but maybe someone who can help as they studied the business card the doctor had handed them.