The Mistake
Lily stepped out of the lecture hall, and Philip hurried over to her at once.
“Well? Did you pass?” Philip gazed at her with equal parts worry and admiration.
“With flying colours!” Lily waved her exam book in front of him. “And you?”
“Well done! I never doubted you.” Philip winced slightly. “I got a bit tangled up. A B. Shall we celebrate?”
Lily lowered her eyes and hesitated.
“Ah. Im out of luck again, arent I?” Philip guessed.
“Im sorry. I think Daniels already waiting for me.”
“Right,” Philip sighed, unable to hide his disappointment. “Where do I stand next to a future star of science? At least let me walk you to the gatessince thats all Im allowed?” He took Lilys hand and led her toward the staircase leading to the ground floor.
The ornate wrought-iron steps hummed faintly under their feet. As she walked, Lily realised she would miss this placethe broad iron staircase, the ancient halls of the medical college with its lingering scent of formaldehyde and paper dust, always cool and dim even on the hottest days.
Philip pushed open the heavy door, and they stepped outside. Lily spotted Daniel at oncetall, waiting by the gates with flowersand flushed.
“Tell medo you love him?” Philip still held her hand.
“Hes proposed.” She felt his fingers tighten around hers.
“Ow!” she cried out.
“Sorry.” He exhaled. “Well, the heart wants what it wants.” He let her go.
“Lily!” Daniels voice carried from the gates.
“Phil” she began.
“Go on, dont keep your fiancé waiting,” Philip said bitterly.
She walked away, sensing his eyes on her back. It wasnt just the university shed missit was him. Shed grown so used to him being there, often barely noticing, never truly appreciating it.
“I told you not to come,” she snapped as she reached Daniel.
“Dont be cross. I was worried.” He moved to kiss her, but she dodged it. Glancing back, she saw Philip was no longer at the door.
“Shall we go? Mums expecting us for lunch. She wants to talk about the wedding… Oh, these are for you.” He held out the bouquet.
“I havent said yes yet,” Lily muttered.
“Mums found a lovely venue…” Daniel continued, as if he hadnt heard.
Lily had hoped to speak to Philip after graduation, but he never came.
“Wheres Samuels?” she asked his friend, Michael.
“He collected his diploma yesterday and left for London. Some relative offered him work. Lucky sod.”
Lily nearly wept. There was no joy in celebrating, so she left straight after the ceremony. She was furious with Philiphow could he leave without telling her? After all his talk of love.
Neither of them called. Pride kept them silent. Two months later, Lily married Daniel.
Seven years later…
“Hello. Do you have a minute?” Lily stepped into the gynaecologists office. “Ugh. How do you work here? I cant stand that torture chair.”
“Lily! Come in! Perfect timingIve just finished for the day.” Olivia hugged her. “How are you?”
They exchanged pleasantries, but Lilys eyes flicked toward the nurse sorting instruments.
“Rachel, you can go,” Olivia said, catching the hint.
“Youre not here just to chat, are you? Finally expecting?” Olivia asked once they were alone.
“I wish. I need advice. Things arent working with Daniel. Honestly, its all gone wrong. His mothers convinced him the problems me. Ive had some tests done, but I dont want the local clinic prying. Could you help?” Lily looked at her hopefully.
“Of course. Show me what youve got.”
Lily laid a folder on the desk. Olivia studied it carefully.
“Well?” Lily pressed.
“Minor irregularities, but otherwise fine. Youll need further tests. Was it Smollett who examined you? Has your husband been checked?”
“Dont be silly. Hed never agree.”
“Right. Can you come back tomorrow? Eight sharp? Good. Lily, its so lovely to see you. Now, tell me everything.”
“Whats to tell? A year ago, I caught him in his office with his assistant. I wanted a divorce, but then the heavy artillery arrivedhis mother and mine. They talked me out of ruining the family over a silly fling. Can you believe it? Just a bit of fun. The assistant was sacked, of course, but things between us never recovered.
Mum said all men stray eventually, no use making a drama. That I just needed a child, and everything would fix itself. As if its only up to me.”
The next day, Lily returned for more tests.
“Well?” She straightened her blouse as she sat down.
“See for yourself.” Olivia slid the scans and results across the desk.
“Here. And here.” She pointed at faint shadows on the image.
“A tumour? But Ive been examined so many times…” Lily stared in horror. “Surgery?”
“Youre a doctoryou know how this goes. Best do it in London. Listen, Ive got Samuels number. Hell help, get you to the right specialist. Ill call him now” Olivia reached for her phone.
“No, dont. Not yet. Let me do it.” Lilys voice was barely a whisper.
“Alright. But dont wait. Ill text you his number. Lily… Im so sorry.”
Lily walked home, numb. She felt finejust the odd twinge in her back. Not even thirty, and after this surgery, shed never have children. A sunny day, plans, dreams… Was it all over? Surgery, chemotherapy… Why her?
She wandered the city for hours, weighing her options. She wouldnt tell her parents yetno need to worry them. Shed say she was tired, take leave, and go to London.
She returned home exhausted. Daniel was at his computer, as usual.
“Daniel… Daniel!”
“Hm?” He didnt look up.
“Are you hungry?”
“Dont interrupt. The datas not matching.” His tone was sharp.
Always the same. Lost in his spreadsheets, his researchshe hardly existed to him.
“Daniel, I need to go away. A fortnight, maybe longer. Did you hear me?”
“Mhm,” he mumbled, still typing.
Good. No interrogationwhere, why? She made coffee, heated some leftovers, and left them at the edge of the desk. He snatched a bite without glancing away from the screen. She sighed and went to bed.
That night, she tossed and turned. She heard him undress, felt him lie down beside her.
“Did you say something earlier?” he asked.
She pretended to sleep.
Soon, his breathing steadied. She slipped out to the kitchen, stood by the window, watching the citys late-night pulsetraffic lights blinking, the occasional sweep of headlights. Eventually, she crawled under the covers and slept.
The next morning, she requested unpaid leave for personal reasons. Packed lightly. Checked the fridgeenough food for now. His mother would come and cook for him soon enough.
She left at dawn while Daniel slept, leaving only a brief note. London greeted her with noise and chaos. From the station, she called Philip. He answered almost at once.
“Hello!” She forced cheer into her voice.
She pulled the phone away, checking the connection. No, it hadnt dropped.
“Phil? Can you hear me?”
“I can,” he said at last. “Lily?! I cant believe it. All these years… I never expected”
“Neither did I. You once said if I ever needed help… Well, I do.”
“Of course. Whats happened?”
“Can we meet? Ill come to your clinic.”
“Youre in London? Ill text the address. I cant believe this…”
An hour later, Lily peered into the doctors lounge.
“May I?”
“Lily!” Philip stood, moving toward her.
She studied him curiously. Where had her eyes been before? Hed grown handsomer, more assured. Probably broken a few nurses hearts along the way.
“Sit down.” He gestured to the sofa. “Tea? Coffee?”
“Im here as a patient,” she said, taking the chair opposite.
Philip sobered at once. “Go on.”
She slid a folder across the table. “Look.”
He pored over the test results, firing quick questions between glances. She marvelled at her own calm, though her hands trembledwhether from nerves or his nearness, she couldnt say.
“Where are you staying?” he finally asked.
“Nowhere. I came straight from the train.”
“Your things? Left at the station?”
“No. My suitcase is in the cloakroom.”
“Good. Lets get you settled in a room. You must be exhausted. Theres a decent café downstairs if youre hungry. RestIll consult colleagues and come back. A nurse will pop in shortly to register you.”
“Phil, wont you say anything? Do I need surgery?”
“Too soon to tell. Well see…”
More tests followed. Specialists examined her. Drips and injections.
Philip visited but skirted the subject of her health. On the third day, the nurse said Dr Samuels was waiting in the lounge.
“Its bad, isnt it?” Lilys heart pounded as she sat down.
Wordlessly, Philip laid the scans and reports before her.
“Im too nervousthe words are blurring. Just tell me,” she pleaded, twisting her fingers.
“Nothing to tell. Youre perfectly healthy,” he said, smiling.
“What? But the tumour” Her voice shook.
“There was no tumour. Just inflammationOlivia misread it. Weve treated it with antibiotics. You can see for yourself. Its not entirely gone, but no surgery is needed.”
“Im healthy… Healthy.” She leafed through the papers, studying the scans, then burst into tears.
“Now then. Ought to be celebrating, not crying.” He handed her a handkerchief.
“Happy tears.” She blew her nose loudly. “I cant believe it. I saw it myself… Thank you, Phil.”
“Dont thank me. Stay a few more days to finish treatment. Call your husbandgive him the good news.”
Lily stopped crying abruptly, staring at him with red-rimmed eyes.
“He doesnt know. I didnt say where I was going. No childrenhis mother blames me. I started tests, and then… Listen, is there an opening here for a GP?”
“You want to stay?” Hope flickered in his eyes.
“God, I still cant process it. Id already made peace with”
“Mistakes happen. You know that,” Philip said gently.
Three days later, Lily returned home. She resigned from her clinic.
Her mother-in-law was waiting when she arrived.
“Had your fun?” the woman snapped. “Weve been worried sick, and you waltz in like nothings wrong”
“I told Daniel I was leaving”
“Enough!” Lily raised her voice. The older woman fell silent. “I can have children. Its your son who needs checking. I think you know that. Care to watch me pack? Make sure I dont take anything extra?”
Flushing, her mother-in-law muttered but left.
Lily visited her parents, announced her divorce and move. Ignoring her mothers protests, she walked out. That was that. Nothing held her here. No children, no bitternessthe divorce would be quick. If needed, shed return to finalise it.
Philip kept his word. After speaking to the hospital director, Lily was hired. Just like at university, he was nearby again. Only after the divorce did she respond to his courtship.
“Will you marry me? Or do I still stand no chance?” he asked one day.
“I made a mistake. Id like to fix itjust give me time. You left so suddenly back then. I never told youI hadnt said yes to Daniel. My mother pushed me”
“I was so hurt…”
A year later, Lily married Philip. They had a healthy son.
Well, mistakes happennot just in life, but in medicine too. As they say, to err is human…
