The Mistake
Lily stepped out of the lecture hall, and Philip was already waiting for her, his face a mix of worry and adoration.
«Well? How did it go?» he asked eagerly.
«Brilliant!» She waved her exam book in front of him. «And you?»
«Well done! I never doubted you,» he said, though his smile faltered slightly. «I got a bit muddled. A second-class honours. Fancy celebrating?»
Lily hesitated, lowering her gaze.
«Ah. I’m out of luck again, arent I?» Philip guessed.
«Im sorry. I think Daniels probably waiting for me already.»
«Right,» Philip sighed, not bothering to hide his disappointment. «Well, how could I compete with a future star of academia? At least let me walk you to the gatessince thats all Im good for.» He took her hand and led her toward the staircase.
The worn stone steps echoed faintly beneath their feet as Lily thought how much shed miss this placethe grand old medical school with its lingering scent of formaldehyde and old books, the cool, shadowed halls even on the hottest days.
Philip pushed open the heavy oak door, and they stepped outside. At once, Lily spotted Daniel waiting by the gates, tall and holding flowers. Her face flushed.
«Tell medo you love him?» Philip still held her hand.
«Hes asked me to marry him.» She felt his grip tighten.
«Ow!» she gasped.
«Sorry.» He let go. «Well, the heart wants what it wants.»
«Lily!» Daniel called from the gates.
«Phil» she began.
«Go on,» he said bitterly. «Dont keep your fiancé waiting.»
She walked away, feeling his eyes on her back. It wasnt just the university shed missit was Philip. Shed grown so used to him being there, shed stopped noticing, stopped appreciating him.
«I told you not to come,» she snapped as she reached Daniel.
«Dont be cross. I was worried.» He leaned in for a kiss, but she dodged it. When she glanced back, Philip was gone.
«Shall we go? Mums expecting us for lunch. She wants to discuss the wedding Oh, these are for you.» He handed her the bouquet.
«I havent said yes yet,» Lily reminded him.
«Mums found a lovely venue,» he continued, ignoring her.
Lily had hoped to speak to Philip after graduation, but he never showed.
«Wheres Samuels?» she asked his friend Mike.
«Left yesterday. Picked up his degree and went straight to London. Some relative got him a job. Lucky sod.»
Lily nearly cried. She had no heart for celebrations and left right after the ceremony. She was furious with Philip. How could he leave without a word? After all his talk of love?
Neither called the otherpride kept them silent. Two months later, Lily married Daniel.
Seven years passed.
«Hello. Got a moment?» Lily asked, stepping into the gynaecologists office. «Ugh. How do you work here? I cant stand that torture chair.»
«Lily! Come in. Youre just in timeI was packing up. How are you?»
They exchanged pleasantries before Lily glanced pointedly at the nurse tidying instruments.
«Rachel, you can go,» Olivia said, understanding.
«Youre not just here to chat, are you?» Olivia asked once they were alone. «Finally expecting?»
«I wish. I came for advice. Daniel and I Well, nothings working. His mums convinced its my fault. Ive had some tests done, but I cant face the gossip at my local clinic. Could you help?»
«Of course. Show me what youve got.»
Lily handed over a folder. Olivia studied it carefully.
«Well?» Lily pressed.
«Minor irregularities, but nothing serious. Youll need further tests. Who examined youDr. Smallwood? Has Daniel been checked?»
«Of course not. Wouldnt even consider it.»
«Right. Can you come tomorrow at eight? Perfect. Im so glad youre here. Now, tell me everything.»
«Whats to tell? A year ago, I caught Daniel with his assistant. I wanted a divorce, but his mother and mine ganged up on mesaid I shouldnt throw away a marriage over a bit of fun. As if! The assistant was sacked, but things have been awful since. Mum says all men stray eventually, and I should just have a baby to fix everything. Like its that simple.»
The next day, Lily returned for more tests.
«Well?» she asked, adjusting her blouse.
«See for yourself.» Olivia laid out the scans.
«See here? And here.» She pointed to faint shadows.
«A tumour? But Ive been examined so many times» Lily stared in horror. «Surgery?»
«Youre a doctoryou know the answer. Best done in London. Listen, Ive got Samuels number. Hell helpget you to a specialist. Ill call him now.»
«No, dont. Let me do it.»
«Fine. But dont wait.» Olivia scribbled down the number. «Lily, Im so sorry»
Lily walked home in a daze. How could this be? She felt finejust an occasional backache. Not even thirty, and now this? Surgery, chemo No children. Why her?
She wandered the city for hours, weighing her options. She wouldnt tell her parents yetno need to worry them. Shed take leave, go to London.
Exhausted, she returned to find Daniel at his computer.
«Daniel?» No response. «Daniel!»
«What?» he snapped, not looking up.
«Are you hungry?»
«Not now. My datas a mess.»
Typical. Always too busy with his spreadsheets to notice her.
«Daniel, I need to go away for a bit. A fortnight, maybe longer. Did you hear me?»
«Mhm,» he grunted, still typing.
Good. No interrogation. She made him coffee, reheated dinner, and left it by his desk before retreating to bed.
That night, she tossed and turned. When Daniel finally joined her, he mumbled, «Did you say something earlier?»
She feigned sleep.
Soon after, she heard his steady breathing, got up, and went to the kitchen. She stood by the window, watching the city lights, the occasional car hurrying home. Eventually, she crawled under the blankets and slept.
The next morning, she requested unpaid leave, packed lightly, and left a note. London greeted her with noise and chaos. From the station, she called Philip.
«Hello,» she said, forcing cheerfulness.
Silence. She checked the screenstill connected.
«Phil? Can you hear me?»
«I can,» he finally replied. «Lily? After all these years I didnt expect this.»
«Neither did I. You once said if I ever needed help Well, I do.»
«Of course. Whats wrong?»
«Can we meet? I could come to your clinic.»
«Youre in London? Ill text the address. I cant believe it»
An hour later, she peered into his office.
«May I?»
«Lily!» Philip stood, astonished.
She studied himwhere had her eyes been before? Hed filled out, grown handsomely distinguished. Probably broken a few nurses hearts.
«Sit down. Tea? Coffee?»
«Im here as a patient,» she said, taking a seat.
Philips demeanour shifted at once. «Go on.»
She handed him her file. He scrutinised the results, glancing at her between notes.
«Where are you staying?» he finally asked.
«Nowhere. Came straight from the train.»
«Your things?»
«In the cloakroom.»
«Good. Ill take you to a room. You must be exhausted. Theres a decent café downstairs if youre hungry. RestIll consult colleagues and return. A nurse will take your details.»
«Phil, just tell me. Do I need surgery?»
«Too soon to say.»
Over the next days, she underwent tests, drips, injections. Philip visited but avoided the subjectuntil the third day, when the nurse announced he was waiting.
«Its bad, isnt it?» Lilys heart pounded as she sat down.
Without a word, he slid the scans toward her.
«Im too nervous to read this. Just tell me,» she pleaded.
«Nothing to tell. Youre perfectly healthy.»
«What? But the tumour»
«There was no tumour. Olivia misread an inflammation. Weve treated it. No surgery needed.»
«Healthy» Lily repeated, flipping through the pages. She looked up, tears streaming.
«And here I thought youd be happy,» he teased, offering a handkerchief.
«I am,» she sniffed. «I cant believe it. Thank you, Phil.»
«Thank me later. Stay a few more days to finish treatment. Call Danielgive him the good news.»
She froze.
«He doesnt know. I left without telling him why. Weve no childrenhis mother blames me. Then these tests Listen, any openings for a GP at your clinic?»
«You want to stay? Ill ask.» Hope flickered in his eyes.
«I still cant believe it. Id made peace with»
«Mistakes happen,» he said softly.
Three days later, she returned home, resigned from her practice, and faced her mother-in-laws wrath.
«Had your fun?» the woman sneered.
«I warned Daniel I was leaving»
«Ungrateful girl! Youll get nothing»
«Enough!» Lily cut in. The woman gaped. «I can have children. Your sons the one who needs checking. Want to watch me pack?»
Red-faced, the woman stormed out.
Lily told her parents she was leaving Daniel, ignoring her mothers protests. Nothing held her here now.
Philip kept his wordshe got the job. He was there, as hed always been. But only after her divorce did she let herself respond to his affection.
«Will you marry me?» he asked one day. «Or am I still hopeless?»
«I made a mistake. Let me fix it. Just give me time. You left so suddenly back thenI never told you I hadnt agreed to marry Daniel. Mum pressured me»
«I was hurt.»
A year later, Lily married Philip and bore him a healthy son.
Mistakes happenin life, in medicine. but love, when true, finds its way back.
