The Mistake
Lillian stepped out of the lecture hall, and at once, Philip rushed to her side.
«Well? Did you pass?» Philip gazed at her with anxious admiration.
«With flying colours!» Lillian waved her exam results before him. «And you?»
«Brilliant! I never doubted you.» Philips smile faltered slightly. «I got a bit tangled uponly a B. Fancy celebrating?»
Lillian lowered her eyes, hesitating.
«Ah. Am I out of luck again?» Philip guessed.
«Sorry. Denis is probably waiting for me already.»
«Right,» Philip sighed, not hiding 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 permitted?» He took her hand and led her toward the staircase descending to the ground floor.
The ornate cast-iron steps hummed faintly beneath their feet. As they walked, Lillian realised she would miss this grand old staircase, the musty scent of formaldehyde and paper dust in the ancient medical college, where even on the hottest days, the corridors stayed cool and dim.
Philip pushed open the heavy door, and they stepped outside. At once, Lillian spotted Denis waiting by the gates, tall and holding flowers. Her cheeks warmed.
«Tell medo you love him?» Philip still held her hand.
«Hes proposed to me.» She felt his fingers tighten around hers.
«Ow!» she cried out.
«Sorry.» He released her, sighing. «Well, the heart wants what it wants.»
«Lillian!» Denis called from the gates.
«Phil» she began.
«Go on. Dont keep your fiancé waiting,» Philip said bitterly.
As she walked away, she felt his eyes on her back. It wasnt just the college shed missit was Philip, always there, always overlooked, never truly valued.
«I asked you not to come,» she snapped when she reached Denis.
«Dont be cross. I was worried.» He leaned in 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 discuss wedding plans Oh, these are for you.» Denis handed her the bouquet.
«I havent said yes yet,» Lillian muttered.
«Mums found a lovely venue,» he continued, as if she hadnt spoken.
She 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.»
Lillian nearly wept. There was no joy in celebrating, so she left immediately after the ceremony. She was furious with Philip. How could he leave without a word? And after claiming to love her?
Neither called the otherpride stood in the way. Two months later, Lillian married Denis.
Seven years passed.
«Hello. Got a moment?» Lillian peered into the gynaecologists office. «Ugh. How do you work here? I cant stand that torture chair.»
«Lillian! Come in. Perfect timingmy last appointment just finished. How are you?»
After exchanging pleasantries, Lillian glanced pointedly at the nurse tidying instruments.
«Rachel, you may 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. Denis and I nothings working. Honestly, its all a mess. His mother keeps insisting the problem is me. Ive had some tests done, but I dont want the local clinic gossiping. Will you help?» Lillian looked at her hopefully.
«Of course. Lets see what youve got.»
Lillian placed a folder on the desk. Olivia studied the contents carefully.
«Well?» Lillian pressed.
«Minor irregularities, but otherwise fine. Well need further tests. Was it Smithers who examined you? Has your husband been checked?»
«Of course not. He wont even consider it.»
«Right. Can you come back tomorrow at eight? Good. Lillian, its so lovely to see you. Now, tell me everything.»
«Whats to tell? A year ago, I caught Denis in his office with his assistant. I wanted a divorce, but his mother and mine ganged up on metalked me out of destroying the family over a silly fling. Can you believe it? Just a silly fling. The assistant was sacked, but things between us never recovered.
Mum said all men stray eventuallyno use making a drama of it. That I just needed a child to fix everything. As if it were entirely up to me.»
The next day, Lillian returned for more tests.
«Well?» she asked, straightening her blouse as she sat.
«See for yourself.» Olivia laid out scans and reports.
«Here. And here.» She pointed to faint marks on the image.
«A tumour? But Ive been examined so many times» Lillian stared in horror. «Surgery?»
«Youre a doctoryou know the drill. Best do it in London. Listen, Ive got Samuels number. Hell refer you to a specialist. Ill call him now»
«No, dont. Not yet. Let me do it,» Lillian said quietly.
«Whatever you prefer. But dont delay. Ill write his number down. Lillian, Im so sorry»
Walking home, Lillian struggled to process it all. She felt finejust an occasional backache. Not yet thirty, and after this surgery, shed never conceive. Sunny days, future plans, dreams of a childwas it all over? Chemo, operations Why her?
She wandered the city for hours, weighing her options. She wouldnt tell her parents yetno need to worry them. Shed claim exhaustion, take leave, and go to London.
By the time she reached home, she was drained. Denis, as usual, was glued to his computer.
«Denis Denis!»
«What?» he muttered, not looking up.
«Are you hungry?»
«Dont disturb me. The datas not lining up,» he snapped.
Typical. Always too busy with his research to spare her a thought.
«Denis, I need to go away for a bit. A fortnight, maybe longer. Did you hear me?»
«Mhm,» he replied, still typing.
Good. No probing questions. She made him coffee, reheated a meal, and set it beside him. He grabbed a forkful without glancing away from the screen. Sighing, she retreated to the bedroom.
That night, sleep wouldnt come. She heard Denis undress and settle beside her.
«Did you say something earlier?» he asked.
She pretended to be asleep.
Once his breathing steadied, she slipped out to the kitchen. For a long time, she stared at the city lights, the distant glow of traffic. Eventually, she crawled under the blankets and drifted off.
The next morning, she requested unpaid leave, packed lightly, and left a note. London greeted her with noise and bustle. From the station, she called Philip. He answered at once.
«Hi,» she said, forcing cheer.
She pulled the phone away, checking the connection. Still there.
«Phil? Can you hear me?»
«I can,» he said at last. «Lillian? I cant believe it. After 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? I can come to your clinic.»
«Youre in London? Ill send the address. I just cant believe it.»
An hour later, Lillian peered into the doctors lounge.
«May I?»
«Lillian!» Philip rose to meet her.
She studied him curiously. How had she never seen it before? Hed grown handsomer, more assured. Probably broken a few nurses hearts along the way.
«Sit down. Tea? Coffee?»
«Im here as a patient,» she said, taking a seat.
Philip sobered at once. «Go on.»
She slid a folder across the table. «Look at these.»
He pored over the test results, firing questions between glances. She was oddly calm, though her hands trembledwhether from nerves or his nearness, she couldnt say.
«Where are you staying?» he finally asked.
«Nowhere. 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 return. A nurse will be in shortly to admit you.»
«Phil, wont you say anything? Do I need surgery?»
«Too soon to tell. Well see»
Over the next days, specialists examined her, administered IVs, ran more tests. Philip visited often but skirted the subject of her health. On the third day, a nurse arrived.
«Dr. Samuels is waiting in the lounge.»
«Its bad, isnt it?» Lillians heart pounded as she sat before him.
Without a word, he placed scans and reports in front of her.
«Im too nervous to read. Just tell me,» she pleaded, twisting her fingers.
«Nothing to tell. Youre perfectly healthy,» Philip smiled.
«What? But the tumour»
«There never was one. Just inflammationOlivia misread it. Weve treated it with antibiotics. See for yourself. Its not entirely gone, but no surgery is needed.»
«Im healthy Healthy,» she repeated, flipping through the papers. When she looked up, tears spilled over.
«Now, now. Shouldnt you be cheering?» He handed her a tissue.
«These are happy tears,» she sniffed. «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.»
She stopped crying, staring at him through reddened eyes.
«He doesnt know. I left without explaining. Weve no childrenhis mother blames me. I started tests, and then Listen, any openings for a GP here?»
«You want to stay?» Hope flickered in his gaze.
«God, it doesnt feel real. Id already made peace with»
«Mistakes happen. You know that,» he said softly.
Three days later, Lillian returned home, resigned from her clinic, and found her mother-in-law waiting.
«Had your fun?» the woman sneered. «Weve been frantic»
«I told Denis I was leaving,» Lillian cut in.
The tirade continuedshed get nothing in the divorce, she was a failed wife, barren
«Enough!» Lillian snapped. The older woman fell silent. «Im fine. Perfectly capable. But your son? Hes the one who needs checking. You know it, too. Care to watch me pack? Make sure I dont steal anything?»
Flushing, her mother-in-law stormed out.
Lillian visited her parents, announced her departure and divorce, and ignored her mothers protests. Nothing held her here now. No children, no disputesthe divorce would be swift. If needed, shed return to finalise it.
True to his word, Philip secured her a position in his clinic. Just like their student days, he was by her side againthough she only returned his affections after the divorce.
«Will you marry me? Or do I still stand no chance?» he asked one day.
«I made a mistake. I want to fix itjust give me time. You left so suddenly back then. I never got to say I hadnt agreed to marry Denis. My mother pushed me»
«I was so hurt»
A year later, Lillian married Philip and bore him a healthy son.
Well, mistakes happennot just in life, but in medicine too. And sometimes, the greatest mistakes lead not to ruin, but to a second chancedelicate, unexpected, and all the more precious for having been nearly lost.
