When Carol said the man behind the door was the head of the obstetrics and gynecology department, Kim had expected a middle aged man, bald at the head or probably some receding hairline — a sign to show the many years of professionalism and dedication to saving lives.
But what Kim had not expected was a comely young man, wiry in built and probably in his thirties, and who was very much capable of bringing high colors to the cheeks of her friend.
"Good morning, Dr Calhoun. I'm sorry to bother you, but this is my friend who I spoke to you about. Kim, meet Dr Cillian Calhoun, head of OB/GYN." Carol introduced.
"It's nice meeting you," Kim stepped closer to his desk and offered a hand, which he received.
"The pleasure is all mine. Please have a seat." He gestured to the seats across his desk.
"Thank you." Kimberly lowered herself to a seat and she couldn't help but observe the awkwardly prim and proper way Carol did too.
The sound of his voice pulled back her attention and her gaze followed after him as he picked up a folder and pulled out a sonogram. "Ms Kim, I've looked at your results, and I'm sorry to say they aren't good."
Kim sat up on her seat, her eyes casting a quick look at Carol before settling back at Cillian.
"How long have you been having this pain?" He inquired. He gave the sonogram a quick study before setting it down.
"About a year. At first I thought it was something casual as the pain wasn't constant. How bad is it?" Kim asked, her gaze keenly peering at the doctor. Her heart rate has slightly risen it's tempo.
Cillian glanced at the test results one last time before staring at her. "You have a complicated case of intramural, subserosal and submucosal uterine Leiomyomas." He said and quickly noticed the slight furrow of her brows.
"What I'm trying to say is, the fibroids are both growing in and around your uterus which makes it a bit complicated especially with your pregnancy. But the good news is, the growing fibroid in your uterus is small and can allow the growth of your baby till full term."
The growth of her baby till full term? Kim mused.
"But what if I don't want to keep the baby? What if I want to abort it? Can I—" she trailed off, she darted her eyes to Carol, who gently held her hand, sensing the anxiety that was building inside of her.
"A surgical abortion will be risky as subserosal fibroids causes heavy bleedings and your results also show a severe case of anemia, which you've also left unattended."
Anemia? She wasn't anemic. Since when has she...
"Are you saying that I can't... that I'd have to keep it?" Kim could already feel a light ache quickly forming in her head, and despite all the fear and the worries, all she wanted was to know was that her life couldn't be over like this.
"What about a medical abortion? Wouldn't it be less risky?" Carol asked, as that had been her opinion since she received the lab results of Kim's blood work. Kim looked from Carol to Cillian.
"Of course, it's less risky, but she's eight weeks pregnant. Chances of an incomplete abortion will be high, and that would result to further administration of drugs which might increase the risk of heavy bleeding and worsen her anemia. It's also a risk."
Carol hated to admit because she knew how Kimberly wanted this, but he was right. She looked at Kim.
Something about listening to the doctor talk about her health and the possible fate of her life made her head spin and her heart began to ache. Something heavy was pitting in her stomach.
The gentle squeeze from Carol as if aware of the knot in her chest pulled her back.
"So what are you saying? What are my options?" She inquired.
"Looking at the positions of the fibroids and their growth, I'd say it's a breakthrough you even conceived in the first place. In rare cases like this fertility is almost impossible. And in your peculiar case, your options are keeping the pregnancy while receiving treatment for the Leiomyomas and anemia. During delivery a procedure can be done to eradicate them."
"And the other?"
"Risking a medical abortion and hoping for the best." He said. A short wave of silence echoed through the room.
"But what if we commence immediate treatment for the anemia, increase her red blood count, and say medicate her for the abortion in two weeks?"
Kimberly focused her eyes on the doctor, anxiously waiting for his response.
"Then she'd almost be at the end of her first trimester. A surgical abortion will be her only option then, and it wouldn't be advisable."
Kim knew there was no room for regret as she walked out of Cillian's office. Not for the times she ignored her health placing everything else above that. And certainly not for being pregnant for a man she'd rather not lay her eyes on ever again.
"Dr Carol?" Cillian called as they approached the door and they both gazed over. "Can I have a word with you?" Cillian asked, and Kim signalled Carol to go ahead.
"I'll be outside." She said and closed the door.
Carol watched as Cillian rose from his seat and rounded his table towards her. Tingles cruised her skin and zinged through her stomach as he came closer. "I'm sorry about your friend." He said stopping two feet away from where she could perceive the musky scent of his sandalwood perfume.
"It's okay. I'm sure she'll make a decision soon." She said, as also she wondered what that decision would be. Maybe if she had been more pushy, she would have known just how sick Kim was.
She felt more tingles when he took another step closer, and her throat almost parched like it had be brandished with a burning rod. "Thank you for squeezing out the time to see her. I really do appreciate it."
"It's nothing." He said, but Carol wanted to believe it was something more.
An awkward silence briefly coursed through the room till he spoke up again.
"What are your plans for dinner?" He suddenly asked.
"Dinner?" Carol stuttered.
"Yes." He nodded.
It was a simple question, yet Carol felt a struggle for words. "I have nothing planned. My shift ends by 5 PM and after that nothing."
"Then would you care to join me for dinner? De Fables, 6 pm."
Air circled in her head upon his invitation. "Are you asking me...Like on a date?" It seemed he was, but she'd rather hear him say it than make assumptions.
Cillian nodded. "Yes, like a date. Can you have dinner with me?"
"Yes." She had answered almost too hastily. Saved from that embarrassment of being over excited, she drew in a furtive breath and nodded, "yes, I'd love to." She said a bit more calmly.
"I'll pick you and we'd head out together."
"Okay."
It wasn't a tsunami that was howling on in her stomach, but Carol could feel the stir of something strong. Something good. Her cheeks couldn't fight off the faint pink that warmed up her cheeks as she walked out his office to join Kim.
"I almost thought you weren't coming out." Kim said the moment Carol stepped out the door.
"And why would you think so? I barely spent four minutes in there."
"Yet, you came out with a sheepish smile on your face and a blush on your cheek. And what was that with the sitting like a debutante with tight corset?"
"What tight corset? Wh-what debutante?" She asked, fighting the blush crawling up her cheeks.
"Hey, Dr Cillian, meet my friend, Kim." Kim mimicked the soft way she had spoken back in Cillian's office.
"Shut up." Carol shot her a mock glare and she couldn't help but chuckle when Kim did. "You're such a fool."
Kim agreed with a nod. "I know, but you like him, don't you?"
"Just shut up, Kim and let's focus on you. What's your decision?" She asked, keeping her priorities straight.