Chapter 8 - The Child Claire Never Had
The embryos remained.
For two years, I refused to make a decision.
I could not destroy them.
I could not imagine using them.
They were possibilities.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Then I met Dr. Lena Wallace, a reproductive-law specialist who helped me understand every option.
No pressure.
No sentimentality.
Just facts.
Eventually, I decided not to attempt to create a child simply because Claire could not.
It would have been my decision, not hers.
And Claire had never explicitly asked for that.
So I followed the instruction she had left.
Her reproductive material would be donated to medical research into the autoimmune condition that had complicated her final year.
It felt right.
Daniel had tried to turn even future life into leverage.
Claire’s legacy would become knowledge instead.
The decision brought peace.
Not everyone understood.
Newspapers criticized it.
Strangers online called me selfish.
I stopped reading comments.
One evening, Vanessa called.
We had not spoken in months.
She had moved to Wisconsin and worked for a nonprofit.
“I heard about the embryos.”
“I’m sure everybody has.”
“I think Claire would've approved.”
I was surprised.
“You think?”
“She hated people making choices for other women.”
That made me smile.
“Yes. She did.”
Vanessa paused.
“Margaret?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for not destroying me when you could have.”
“I didn't save you.”
“No. But you didn't treat me like Daniel treated people.”
I considered that.
“I still don't like what you did.”
“I know.”
“I probably never will.”
“I know.”
“But I hope you build something better.”
She started crying.
“I’m trying.”
May you like
That was the closest we ever came to forgiveness.
It was enough.
