The following week passed in a blur of routine. Work was a welcome distraction, the daily tasks grounding me in their familiarity. Yet, the doctor’s suggestion lingered, a shadow in the back of my mind.
One afternoon, I received a call from Dr. Harris’s office. “We’d like to schedule a follow-up appointment,” the receptionist said. “Just to discuss your options moving forward.” Her tone was polite, professional, yet it felt like another weight added to my shoulders.
“Of course,” I replied, jotting down the date and time. A week from now, another meeting that could change everything.
That evening, I met my friend Emily for dinner. We sat in our usual booth at a small Italian restaurant, the smell of garlic and herbs wafting through the air.
“You seem distracted,” Emily noted, swirling her pasta with a fork.
I took a sip of wine, considering how to respond. “I had a strange appointment with my doctor,” I admitted. “He suggested I might want to consider life without kids.”
Emily paused, her fork suspended mid-air. “Wow, that’s a lot to process. How are you feeling about it?”
“I’m not sure,” I confessed. “I’ve been trying to imagine it, but it’s just… hard.”
She nodded, understanding. “You don’t have to decide anything right now. Just take it one step at a time.”
Her words were a balm, a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. We talked and laughed, letting the conversation drift to lighter topics as the evening wore on.
Later, as I walked home, I felt a little lighter, the burden of uncertainty lessened, if only for a moment.
Read more on the next page ⬇️⬇️⬇️
