~Two Weeks Later
Shaelyn stood in her living room, the phone pressed to her ear as she listened intently to Dr. Martin's voice on the other end.
"Shaelyn," he began, his tone serious and unwavering, "I need you to come into the hospital for a re-examination."
Shaelyn frowned slightly, her heart racing at the thought of more tests. "Is it really necessary, Dr. Martin? I thought we were managing my condition well enough."
"It's not a complete check-up," he replied, his voice firm yet compassionate. "But your disease requires more attention than before. We need to assess how you're responding to the treatment. And we need you to come in with your husband."
Shaelyn sighed, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach. "I understand… but what about my husband? What does any of this have to do with him?"
Dr. Martin paused for a moment before continuing, "That's exactly what I wanted to discuss with you. The matter that we didn't finish talking about last time… I will reiterate it now: You need to inform your husband about your medical condition, Shaelyn."
Shaelyn's breath caught in her throat, the mere thought of it sending alarm bells blaring in her head. "You want me to tell him? But...""
"At this point, I'm afraid if you don't tell him, I will have to," Dr. Martin said firmly, his concern evident even through the phone line. "And I still strongly recommend that you bring him with you this time around."
Shaelyn felt a wave of anxiety wash over her, she could hear the seriousness in Dr. Martin's tone, but even so, how could she take her husband along?
"My husband is out of town on a business trip and has been for months," Shaelyn said, her tone firm. "There's really no way for him to go with me."
"Okay, let's do it this way," Dr Martin suggested from the other end of the line.
"Why don't you tell him to call me? Or better yet, give me his number and I'll reach out to him directly. That way we may schedule a time convenient for him so I may brief him on your condition, and the options we have already discussed."
'Options?!' Shaelyn thought in alarm.
Shaelyn knew exactly what Dr. Martin meant by options...a medical abortion as he had earlier recommended.
Shaelyn's hand protectively rested on her abdomen where a new life was nestled, a life the doctor believed had to be sacrificed to save Shaelyn's.
Shaelyn's voice turned icy. "Did I not already make it clear that was not an option? Why bring it up again? Are you ignoring my decision?"
Dr. Martin was silent on the other end, perhaps feeling the weight of her accusation. "It's not about ignoring your decision, Shaelyn," he replied slowly.
"This is about safety—yours and your baby's. Keeping your husband in the dark and making a sole decision on the matter could lead to bigger problems down the line." Dr. Martin emphasized as he had many times before.
Silence hung heavily between them for a moment,
Finally, Dr. Martin broke the silence again, "Look, I understand that you want to protect your privacy, but there are three reasons why I believe it's crucial for your husband to be involved in this decision."
Shaelyn sighed audibly. "What reasons could possibly justify breaking my trust?"
"First," Dr. Martin began patiently, "If you both decide to have the baby, you will need emotional support—your husband also deserves to know what you're going through."
"Second," he continued without waiting for her response, "there are other medical decisions that will need both of your inputs along the line."
"And third," Dr. Martin concluded firmly, "This process is not without risks, if something were to happen during this process and he wasn't informed… well, that would be devastating for everyone involved."
Shaelyn shifted nervously, moving across the room to take a seat on the bed as she contemplated how to respond.
"If I were widowed or divorced, it would be a lot easier," Shaelyn thought to herself.
"And what if said my husband isn't the father of my child? Would they let it be then…" Shaelyn wondered.
"Shaelyn." Dr. Martin began gently, "Whatever the situation is, it must be serious if you're hesitant to tell your husband about your condition. It can't be anything good and while I do understand, I have to insist."
"Do you not agree that he deserves to know? That having this child would put your life at risk?" Dr Martin asked.
Shaelyn sighed deeply, feeling the weight of his words. "You're right," she admitted reluctantly. "I just… I don't know how he would react."
"Look," he said softly, "I'm just a doctor here to help you with your health concerns. I can't interfere in family matters." He paused for a moment before adding, "But if you need someone to talk to or if there's anything else I can do for you…"
"Thank you, Dr. Martin." Shaelyn interrupted him,
Grateful for his understanding but still feeling overwhelmed by everything, she ended the call and tossed the phone aside.
Shaelyn's gaze moved to the night stand where a brown envelope lay ominously, untouched since Shaelyn had left it there.
In it contained the divorce papers...the documents that would put a final end to it all.
It had already been a while since the documents had been delivered, yet Shaelyn could not bring herself to open it or even take a look.
And with Dr.Martin's words now heavy on her mind, Shaelyn cradled her head in her hands, and not long after, muffled sobs echoed in the quiet room.