The Mistake
Lily stepped out of the lecture hall, and Philip was there, waiting just outside.
«Did you pass?» His voice wavered between worry and admiration.
«With flying colours!» She waved her exam booklet in front of him. «And you?»
«Brilliant! I never doubted you.» His smile faltered. «I got a bit tangled up. A B. Should we celebrate?»
Lily lowered her gaze, hesitating.
«Ah, I see. Not in the cards again?» Philip sighed, disappointment creeping into his voice.
«Sorry. Denis is probably waiting for me already.»
«Right.» He exhaled sharply, masking the hurt. «Hard to compete with a future star of science, isnt it? At least let me walk you to the gatessince thats all I get.» He took her hand, guiding her toward the staircase.
The ornate iron steps hummed faintly beneath their feet. Lilys chest ached. Shed miss this placethe old medical college with its scent of formaldehyde and dust, the cool shadows that clung even on the hottest days.
Philip shoved the heavy door open, and sunlight spilled in. At the gates, Denis stood waiting, tall, a bouquet in hand. Lilys breath hitched.
«Tell me you love him,» Philip murmured, fingers tightening around hers.
«He proposed.» His grip turned painful.
«Ow!» She jerked back.
«Sorry.» He released her. «Well. Cant force the heart, can you?»
«Lily!» Denis called from the gates.
«Phil»
«Go on,» he said, bitterness sharpening his tone. «Dont keep your fiancé waiting.»
She walked away, feeling his stare like weight between her shoulders. It wasnt just the college shed missit was him. Always there, always overlooked.
Denis frowned as she approached. «I told you not to come.»
«Dont be cross. I was worried.» He leaned in for a kiss, but she dodged it. When she glanced back, Philip was gone.
«Come on,» Denis said, oblivious. «Mums expecting us for lunch. She wants to discuss the wedding. Ohthese are for you.» He shoved the flowers at her.
«I havent said yes yet,» Lily muttered.
«Mum found a lovely venue» He prattled on, ignoring her.
At graduation, Philip never showed.
«Wheres Samuels?» Lily asked his friend Michael.
«Left yesterday. Got a job offer in London. Some relative pulled strings. Lucky sod.»
Her throat tightened. She skipped the celebrations altogether.
Two months later, she married Denis.
Seven years passed.
«Hey. Got a minute?» Lily leaned into the gynaecologists office. «Ugh. How do you work here? That chairs a torture device.»
«Lil!» Olivia grinned. «Perfect timingjust finished my shift. Whats new?»
They caught up, but Lilys eyes darted to the nurse by the instruments.
«Claire, you can go,» Olivia said.
Once alone, she turned serious. «Youre not just here to chat, are you? Finally expecting?»
«God, no. I need advice.» Lilys voice dropped. «Denis and I its not working. His mothers convinced its my fault. I did some tests, but I cant go through my GPtoo many gossips. Can you help?»
«Of course. Show me what youve got.»
Lily slid over a folder. Olivia scanned it, lips pursed.
«Well?»
«Minor irregularities, but nothing alarming. Well need more tests. Can you come tomorrow? Eight sharp. AndDenis got checked too?»
Lily snorted. «Wont even consider it.»
«Right.» Olivia sighed. «So, how are things really?»
«Caught him with his assistant last year. Wanted a divorce, but his mother and mine ganged up on me. Just a fling, they said. As if that fixes anything.» She laughed bitterly. «Mum reckons all men cheat eventuallythat a baby would magically fix everything. Like its only on me.»
Next morning, Lily returned for more tests.
«Well?» She fiddled with her blouse collar.
Olivia laid out the scans. «See here? And here.» She tapped the shadows.
«A tumor? But Ive been checked so many times» Lilys voice shook. «Surgery?»
«Youre a doctoryou know the drill. Best do it in London. Listen, Ive got Philips number. Hell refer you to a specialist. Ill call him»
«No. Not yet. Let me do it.»
Lily left in a daze. Thirty years old. Healthy. Dreams of motherhoodnow ashes. Why her?
She wandered the streets, rehearsing how to tell her parents. Shed take leave, go to London alone.
At home, Denis barely glanced up from his computer.
«Denis,» she called. «Denis!»
«What?»
«Are you hungry?»
«Busy. Datas not adding up.»
Always the same. Work first. Her last.
«I need to go away. A couple of weeks. Maybe longer.»
«Mhm.»
She made coffee, reheated dinner, left it by his desk. He wolfed it down without looking.
That night, she lay awake until his breathing steadied. Then she crept to the kitchen, stared at the city lights, and finally slept.
Next day, she booked unpaid leave, packed light, and left at dawn, a note on the table.
London roared around her. She dialed Philip. He answered instantly.
«Hi,» she forced brightness.
Silence. She checked the callstill connected.
«Phil? You there?»
«Lily?» His voice cracked. «After all these years I didnt expect»
«Neither did I. You once said if I ever needed help Well, I do.»
«Where are you?»
«London. Your cliniccan I come?»
An hour later, she hovered at his office door.
«Come in.»
Philip stood, taller now, sharper. Handsome in a way shed never noticed before.
«Sit. Tea? Coffee?»
«Im here as a patient.»
His expression hardened. He reviewed her files, asking clipped questions. Her hands tremblednot from fear, but his nearness.
«Where are you staying?»
«Nowhere. Came straight from the train.»
He arranged a room. Tests followed. Days of suspense.
On the third day, he summoned her.
«Its bad?» Her pulse pounded.
He slid the scans over. «Read it yourself.»
«I cantjust tell me.»
Philip smiled. «Youre fine. No tumor. Just inflammationOlivia misread it. Antibiotics cleared most of it. No surgery needed.»
«Fine?» She sobbed.
He handed her a tissue. «Call your husband. Good news.»
She froze. «He doesnt know Im here.»
Philips eyes flickered. «Weve got an opening for a GP. Interested?»
A week later, she returned home. Resigned from her clinic.
Deniss mother pounced the moment she walked in.
«Done gallivanting? Weve been worried sick»
«Denis knew I was leaving.» Lily cut her off. «Im healthy. Perfectly capable of having children. Maybe your son should get checked.»
The woman spluttered, then left.
Lily packed her things, told her parents she was leaving Denis, and ignored their protests.
Philip kept his word. A job, a fresh start. And when her divorce finalized, she finally let him close.
«Marry me?» he asked one evening. «Or still no chance?»
«I made a mistake,» she whispered. «Let me fix it.»
A year later, they married. Soon after, their son was born.
Mistakes happenin life, in medicine. But sometimes, they lead you where you were meant to be all along.
