**The Mistake**
Lily stepped out of the lecture hall, and Philip was there in an instant, looking at her with a mix of nerves and adoration.
«Did you pass?» he asked.
«With flying colours!» Lily waved her exam record in front of him. «And you?»
«Brilliant!» He grinned, then winced. «I got a bit tangled upended up with a B. Fancy celebrating?»
Lily hesitated, dropping her gaze.
«Ah. Third-wheeling again, am I?» Philip guessed.
«Sorry. I think Dennis is probably waiting for me by now.»
«Right,» Philip sighed, disappointment clear. «Cant compete with the future Nobel laureate, can I? At least let me walk you to the gatesunless thats too much to hope for?» He took her hand and steered her toward the grand staircase.
The wrought-iron steps hummed faintly under their feet. Lily glanced around, suddenly nostalgic for the old medical school buildingits lingering scent of formaldehyde and dusty textbooks, the way it stayed cool and shadowy even on the hottest summer days.
Philip shoved open the heavy door, and there, by the gates, stood Dennistall, holding flowers. Lily flushed.
«Do you love him?» Philip still hadnt let go of her hand.
«He proposed.» She felt his fingers tighten.
«Ow!» she yelped.
«Sorry.» He released her. «Well, the heart wants what it wants.»
«Lily!» Dennis called.
«Phil» she started.
«Go on. Dont keep the fiancé waiting,» he muttered, stepping back.
She walked away, feeling his eyes on her. It wasnt just the university shed missit was him. Hed always been there, steady and unremarkable, like the wallpaper you forget to appreciate until its gone.
«I told you not to come,» she snapped as she reached Dennis.
«Dont be cross. I was worried.» He leaned in for a kiss, but she dodged it, glancing back. Philip was already gone.
«Shall we? Mums expecting us for lunchwants to talk wedding venues. Oh, these are for you.» He handed her the bouquet.
«I havent said yes yet,» Lily reminded him.
«Mum found a lovely hall» he carried on, as if she hadnt spoken.
At graduation, Philip was nowhere to be seen.
«Wheres Samuels?» she asked his mate, Mike.
«Left yesterday. Some cousin got him a job in London. Lucky sod.»
Lily nearly cried. There was no joy in celebratingshe left straight after the ceremony. She was furious with Philip. How could he leave without a word? After all his promises?
Neither called the other. Pride got in the way. Two months later, Lily married Dennis.
Seven years passed.
«Hello. Got a minute?» Lily peeked into the gynaecologists office. «Ugh. How do you work here? That chairs a medieval contraption.»
«Lils! Come injust finished my shift. How are you?»
They caught up, but Lily kept eyeing the nurse by the instrument tray.
«Claire, you can head off,» Olivia said, taking the hint.
Once alone, Olivia leaned in. «So, finally expecting?»
«I wish. I need advice. Dennis and I… its not working. His mums convinced its my fault. Ive had some tests done, but I dont want the local clinic gossiping. Can you help?»
«Of course. Whatve you got?»
Lily handed over a folder. Olivia studied it carefully.
«Well?» Lily pressed.
«Minor irregularities, but nothing alarming. Well need further tests. Who examined youSmith? Has your husband been checked?»
«Fat chance. He wont even discuss it.»
«Right. Can you come tomorrow at eight? Perfect. God, its good to see you. Spill the rest.»
«Whats to spill? Caught him with his assistant last year. Wanted a divorce, but then his mum and mine swooped in’Dont throw away a marriage over a silly fling!’ As if. The assistant was sacked, but things havent been the same since. Mum says all men stray eventually, and I should just have a baby. Like its that simple.»
Next morning, Lily returned for more tests.
«Well?» She adjusted her blouse collar as she sat.
«See for yourself.» Olivia slid over scans and results.
«Tumour? But Ive been checked so many timessurgery?» Lilys voice shook.
«Youre a doctoryou know the drill. Best do it in London. Look, Ive got Samuels number. Hell refer you to someone good. Ill call him now»
«No, dont. Ill do it.»
«Fine. But dont wait.» Olivia scribbled the number. «Lils, Im so sorry.»
Lily walked home in a daze. She felt finejust the odd backache. Not even thirty, and now this? Sunshine, future plans, dreams of a familywas it all over? Surgery, chemo… Why her?
She wandered for hours, weighing options. Shed tell her parents nothingtake leave, go to London, deal with it alone.
Exhausted, she returned to find Dennis glued to his computer.
«Dennis»
«Hmm?»
«Are you hungry?»
«Busy. Figures arent adding up.»
Typical. Always his research, never her.
«I need to go away for a bit. A fortnight, maybe longer. Did you hear me?»
«Uh-huh.»
Good. No interrogation. She warmed him a meal, left it on the desk, and retreated to bed.
That night, she lay awake until he slid in beside her.
«You said something earlier?»
She pretended to sleep.
At dawn, she packed lightly, left a note, and caught the first train. London swallowed her in noise and bustle. From the station, she called Philip. He answered immediately.
«Hi,» she chirped, forced cheer in her voice.
Silence. She checked the screenstill connected.
«Phil? You there?»
«…Lily? Blimey. After all these years.»
«You once said if I ever needed help… Well, I do.»
«Of course. Whats wrong?»
«Can we meet? I can come to your clinic.»
«Youre in London? Ill text the address. Cant believe it…»
An hour later, she hovered at the staff room door.
«May I?»
«Lily!» Philip stood so fast his chair skidded.
She studied himhow had she missed this? Taller, broader, unfairly handsome now. Probably broke hearts daily.
«Sit. Tea? Coffee?»
«Im here as a patient.» She slid a folder across the desk.
His smile vanished. «Go on.»
She outlined her ordeal, hands tremblingless from fear, more from his nearness.
«Where are you staying?» he finally asked.
«Nowhere. Came straight from the train.»
«Suitcase?»
«Left it in the cloakroom.»
«Good. Ill get you a room. Rest. Theres a decent café downstairs. Ill consult colleagues and update you later.»
«Philso its surgery?»
«Too soon to say.»
Tests followed. Philip visited but avoided the subject until, on the third day, a nurse fetched her.
«Its bad?» Her heart hammered.
He laid out scans and notes.
«I cant focusjust tell me,» she begged, fingers knotted.
«Nothing to tell. Youre fine.»
«What? But the tumour»
«Never existed. Olivia mistook inflammation for one. Weve treated it. No surgery needed.»
Lily burst into tears.
«Oi, happy news, and youre bawling!» He offered a tissue.
«Relief,» she sniffed. «Thank you.»
«Thank the antibiotics. Stay three more days for monitoring. Call Dennishell be chuffed.»
She gaped. «He doesnt know. His mum thinks Im barren. Thats why I got tested… Say, any openings for a GP here?»
«Youd stay? Ill ask.» Hope lit his eyes.
Three days later, she returned home, resigned her job, and faced her mother-in-laws tirade.
«Done gallivanting? Weve been worried sick»
«Dennis knew I was leaving.»
«Useless daughter-in-law! Cant even give him a child»
«Enough!» Lily cut in. «I can. But your son needs testing. Fancy watching me pack?»
The woman spluttered and left.
Lily told her parents she was leaving Dennis, ignored the protests, and left. No kids, no grudgesclean break.
Philip kept his word. A job awaited her in his hospital. Slowly, after the divorce, she let him back in.
«Marry me?» he asked one day. «Or am I still runner-up?»
«I made a mistake. Let me fix it. You left so suddenlyI never told you I only married Dennis because Mum insisted.»
«I was hurt…»
A year later, they wed. Soon after, their son was born.
Mistakes happenin life, in medicine. But sometimes, they lead you where you were meant to be all along.
