This is just a woven masterpiece of sorrow and relief. In such a tight word count, you have so many amazingly lines, I could quote far too many of them, but just this first bit of story

The words fell out of the doctor's mouth like cold hard drops of rain on a work morning

it just carries the chilling impact of the words so very well <3 There is so much emotion in the face of this woman, and i spent a lot of time pondering the mixture of a distant gaze, sorrow and acceptance, and the story you have chosen to tell conveys every aspect of that so well. You are such a master of prompt fulfilment (which reminds me, I am bringing my contest back and sincerely hope you will make it with a beautifully long story for me <3) everything about this is so well put together, the detail of her set jaw just conveying both the picture, and so much emotion. Everything you write is such a pleasure to read!