“Okay,” Sarah said finally, her voice firm. “We’ll do the test. But I want you to know that this hurts, John. It hurts that you don’t trust me.”

John’s expression softened momentarily, a flicker of guilt passing over his features. “I’m sorry, Sarah. I don’t mean to hurt you. It’s just that I can’t shake this feeling.”

The next few days passed in a haze. They went through the motions of their daily lives, but there was a palpable tension in the air. Tim, blissfully unaware of the turmoil, continued to play with his toys, his laughter echoing through the house.

Sarah scheduled the DNA test, and they went together, the silence between them louder than any argument they could have had. The waiting room at the clinic was sterile and uninviting, and Sarah found herself lost in thought, wondering how they arrived at this point.