**The Mistake**
Lily stepped out of the lecture hall, and Philip was already rushing toward her.
“Did you pass?” His voice was tense, his eyes full of worry and admiration.
“With flying colours!” She waved her exam results in front of him. “And you?”
“Brilliant! I never doubted you.” His smile faltered. “I got a bit mixed upended up with a B. Still, worth celebrating?”
Lily dropped her gaze, hesitating.
“Ah. Im out of luck again, arent I?” Philip guessed.
“Sorry. Denis is probably waiting for me.”
“Right,” he sighed, disappointment heavy in his voice. “How can I compete with a future star of science? At least let me walk you to the gatessince thats all I get?” He took her hand, guiding her toward the grand staircase.
The ornate wrought-iron steps hummed faintly underfoot. Lilys chest achedshed miss this place. The old medical college with its scent of formaldehyde and dusty books, cool and shadowed even on the hottest days.
Philip pushed open the heavy door, and there, just beyond the gates, stood Denis, tall and rigid, a bouquet in hand. Lilys breath hitched.
“Tell me honestlydo you love him?” Philips grip tightened.
“He proposed.” She winced as his fingers dug into her skin.
“Ow!” she gasped.
“Sorry.” His voice was hollow. “Cant command the heart, can you?” He released her.
“Lily!” Denis called from the gates.
“Phil”
“Go. Dont keep your fiancé waiting.” The bitterness in his tone stung.
She walked away, feeling his gaze burn into her back. It wasnt just the college shed missit was him. Hed always been there, steady and unappreciated.
“I asked you not to come,” she snapped as she reached Denis.
“Dont be cross. I was worried.” He leaned in for a kiss, but she dodged it, glancing back. Philip was already gone.
“Shall we go? Mums expecting us for lunch. She wants to discuss the wedding plans Oh, these are for you.” He thrust the flowers at her.
“I havent said yes yet,” Lily muttered.
“Mums found a lovely venue” He talked over her, oblivious.
At graduation, Philip never showed.
“Wheres Samuels?” she asked his friend, Mike.
“He collected his diploma yesterday and left for London. Some relative got him a job. Lucky sod.”
Lily nearly cried. There was nothing to celebrate. She went straight home, furious at Philip. How could he leave without a word? After all his declarations of love.
Neither called. Pride kept them silent. Two months later, Lily married Denis.
Seven years passed.
“Hi. Got a moment?” Lily stepped into the gynaecologists office, shivering. “God, how do you work here? I hate that bloody examination chair.”
“Lil! Come in. Perfect timingI just finished my shift.” Olivia hugged her. “How are you?”
They caught up, but Lilys eyes kept darting to the nurse by the instruments.
“Ruth, you can head off,” Olivia said, taking the hint.
“Youre not just here to chat, are you? Finally expecting?” she asked once they were alone.
“I wish. I need advice. Denis and I its not working. His mothers convinced its my fault. I did some tests, but I dont want the local clinic gossiping. Can you help?”
“Of course. Whatve you got?”
Lily handed over a folder. Olivia scanned the results.
“Well?” Lily pressed.
“Minor irregularities, but nothing alarming. Well need more tests. Was it Smithers who examined you? Has Denis been checked?”
“Dont be daft. Hed never agree.”
“Right. Can you come tomorrow at eight? Perfect. God, its so good to see you. Spillwhats really going on?”
“Whats to say? A year ago, I caught him in his office with his assistant. I wanted a divorce, but then his mother and mine swooped in. Convinced me not to throw away my marriage over a silly fling. As if betrayals trivial. The assistant was fired, but things between us theyre broken.”
Mum said all men stray eventually, that I should stop worrying and just have a babylike its solely my responsibility.
The next day, Lily underwent further tests.
“Well?” She adjusted her blouse collar as she sat across from Olivia.
“See for yourself.” Olivia laid out the scans.
“Here. And here.” She pointed to faint spots on the images.
“A tumour? But Ive been examined so many times” Lilys voice trembled. “Surgery?”
“Youre a doctor. You know the drill. Londons your best bet. Listen, Ive got Samuels number. Hell refer you to a specialist. Let me call him”
“No. Not yet. Ill do it myself.”
“Alright. But dont wait. Ill text you his details. Lil Im so sorry.”
Lily wandered the streets, numb. How could this happen? She wasnt even thirty. Surgery meant no children. No future.
At home, Denis barely glanced up from his computer.
“DenisDenis!”
“What?”
“Are you hungry?”
“Not now. The datas not lining up.”
Typical. Always his research, never her.
“I need to go away for a bit. A fortnight, maybe longer.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Good. No interrogation. She heated leftovers, left them at his elbow, and retreated to bed.
That night, she lay awake until his breathing steadied. Then she stood at the kitchen window, watching the city lights flicker.
The next morning, she requested unpaid leave, packed a small suitcase, and left before dawn.
London was chaos. From the station, she called Philip. He answered instantly.
“Hi!” She forced cheer into her voice.
Silence.
“Phil? Can you hear me?”
“I hear you,” he said at last. “Lily? Bloody hell. After all these years”
“You once said if I ever needed helpwell, I do.”
“Of course. Whats wrong?”
“Can we meet? I can come to your clinic.”
“Youre in London? Ill text the address. I cant believe this”
An hour later, she hovered in his office doorway.
“Come in.”
He stood, taller now, more assured. Handsome. How had she never noticed?
“Sit. Tea? Coffee?”
“Im here as a patient.” She laid her folder on the desk.
His expression darkened. “Talk to me.”
She explained, hands shakingnot just from fear, but from his closeness.
“Where are you staying?”
“Nowhere. Came straight from the train.”
“Luggage?”
“In the cloakroom.”
“Good. Ill sort a room for you. Rest. Ill consult colleagues and return. A nurse will take your details.”
“Philjust tell me. Is surgery inevitable?”
“Too soon to say.”
Tests. Scans. Drips. Philip visited but avoided the subject. Until the third day, when the nurse said he was waiting.
“Its bad, isnt it?” Her pulse raced.
He slid the scans toward her.
“I cant focusjust tell me.”
“Lily youre perfectly healthy.”
“What? But the tumour”
“Was inflammation. Olivia misread it. Weve treated it. No surgery needed.”
“Im healthy?” She burst into tears.
“Shouldnt you be cheering?” He handed her a tissue.
“I am!” She laughed through sobs. “Thank you.”
“Dont thank me. Stay a few more days to recover. Call Denishell be relieved.”
Her tears stopped. “He doesnt know. His mother blamed me for no children. I panicked Phil, any openings for a GP here?”
“Youd stay? Ill ask.” Hope flickered in his eyes.
Three days later, she returned home, resigned her job, and faced her mother-in-laws wrath.
“Had enough gallivanting?” the woman sneered.
“Enough.” Lily cut her off. “I can have children. Its your son who needs checking. Watch me pack if you likejust dont expect me to stay.”
She visited her parents, announced her divorce, and left before the scolding began.
Philip kept his word. A job, a fresh start. And when her divorce was final, she let him court her properly.
“Will you marry me? Or am I still hopeless?” he asked one evening.
“I made a mistake. Let me fix it. You left so suddenly back thenI never got to say I only agreed to marry Denis because Mum insisted.”
“You broke my heart.”
A year later, they married. Their son was born healthy.
Mistakes happenin life, in medicine. But sometimes, they lead you where you were meant to be.
