The living room remained silent as the shock settled over the small young family.
Mark pulled up a heavy wooden chair and sat directly in front of his wife.
He took the illuminated smartphone from Sarah's stiff hands to read the official text.
His brows furrowed deeply as he scanned the detailed lines printed on the screen.
Mark: This report claims there is zero genetic overlap between us.
Sarah: How could the clinic issue a report like that today?
Mark: There must be a terrible administrative mistake at the lab.
Toby sat down on the soft carpet right next to his mother's feet.
He unzipped his heavy backpack and pulled out his favorite well-worn drawing notebook.
The boy began sketching quietly while listening to his parents speak in hushed tones.
Sarah leaned her tired head back against the soft white cushions of the sofa.
She remembered the day Toby was born at the local county hospital ten years ago.
It had been a cold rainy morning in late October during a storm.
She recalled holding him in her arms the very moment he took his first breath.
There was never any doubt in her heart that this boy belonged in her family.
Sarah: I carried him for nine whole months in that clinic.
Mark: I know you did, my sweet love, calm down.
Sarah: Then why does this paper state such an impossible thing?
Mark: Errors happen in giant databases all the time these days.
Mark stood up from the wooden chair and began pacing across the marble floor.
He pulled out his own cell phone to dial the central clinic main office.
An automated voice answered the call and put him on a long hold queue.
Frustration showed clearly on his face as the repetitive elevator music played loudly.
He tapped his foot impatiently while staring out the large glass bay windows.
Outside, the quiet suburban street was bathed in bright late-afternoon sunshine daylight.
Neighboring children were riding their colorful bicycles down the paved sidewalk happily.
The stark contrast between the peaceful world outside and their inner chaos was jarring.
Toby looked up from his detailed paper drawing and offered a small warm smile.
Toby: I drew our happy house with all of us inside.
Sarah leaned down and gave her sweet son a tight, loving embrace instantly.
Sarah: Your drawing is beautiful beyond words, my sweet boy.
Mark: The clinic line just disconnected us without any answer!
Mark growled softly in anger as he looked down at his dark phone screen.
He realized that calling by phone was not going to give them any answers.
They were going to have to drive down to the regional medical clinic directly.