"I know you're a smart doctor, and I can count on you," Mrs. Vans commented and stood to take her leave.
Even after accepting to carry out the task, Doctor Brian's mind was not at peace. He battled with his emotions, passing a judgment on his corrupt activity.
"Madam," he called out as soon as she was about to step out of the office.
Mrs. Vans turned, "Don't flatter yourself too much. And I repeat, you and I never knew each other if things should go sour one day," he warned.
"Noted," Mrs. Vans smiled and walked away to her daughter-in-law's ward.
"How're you feeling now, Mrs. Leonardo?" The doctor asked as he entered the ward to check on her.
Viola smiled, "I'm fine, doctor. As you can see, I can sit and stand on my own," she said casually.
He opened the file he was holding, took out a paper folded like an envelope, and handed it over to her.
"That's your test result." He said and paused while she opened the paper.
"Huh, oh my God, no! Hepatitis C?" Viola screamed with her hands on her head as she read through the result.
"Don't panic, Viola. It is not a death sentence. It is curable; that's if you follow the instructions given to you!" The doctor explained, cajoling her to calm down.
"But, doctor, nobody in my family has this, and the last medical checkup I did, I wasn't having anything like this! So where did the sickness come from?" Viola asked impatiently.
"So what are you insinuating, Viola? Do you mean the test result is lying?" Mrs. Vans chipped into the discussion impatiently.
"Viola, you know very well that this is the best hospital in this town, so you have to thank God your ailment was discovered in its early stage." Mrs Vans added.
Viola's mind was shattered. That was not what she expected.
She had perceived that she was pregnant but was only waiting for confirmation before she could tell it to anyone.
But now this? Her happiness instantly turned into sadness.
"You can go home now, ma'am. But before you do that, I'll schedule an appointment with you for your next checkup." The doctor said and excused himself.
Viola became lost in thoughts at the moment. Remembering how her mother suffered with sickness before she died, she began perceiving the same fate for herself.
She went back home sad and devastated.
"Honey! Honey!" Leonardo called outwhen he noticed that Viola didn't stand to welcome him as he got back from work.
She sat on the couch, leaning her head on her palms; she became so lost in thoughts that she didn't notice his presence.
"Viola, are you okay?" He asked as he moved closer and squad, holding her hands.
Viola growled, clearing her throat, and wiped her face.
Surprised, "Wait, are you crying?" Leo asked in confusion.
"Com'on, Viola. I told you to relax your mind; this is not a death sentence!" His mother's voice echoed.
"Mum, what are you talking about? Death? What happened?" Leonardo asked impatiently.
"Hey, relax, Leo," his mother said reluctantly.
"It's nothing serious. She just snapped out when I wanted to take her out, so we rushed to the hospital, and she was diagnosed with..."
"Hepatitis C," Viola chipped in quickly.
"What? And nobody told me?" Dan queried.
"I told her not to. I don't want her to disturb you at work since it was nothing serious." His mother explained.
"That's not a disturbance, mom; she's my wife, and she means everything to me. My work can't be placed above her!" Leonardo countered.
His words pierced through Mrs. Van's heart. How dare he place her above everything?
"Hmmm," she smirked stylishly, but maintaining an expression of concern and love, "enjoy while it lasts. In no distant time, you'll place everything above her, including your sandals!" She said it inwardly.
Seeing the boredom in her eyes, Leo joined his mom in calming her down.
"Please, don't ever mention my sickness to my dad," she told Leonardo calmly as they went to bed.
Oceans of doubt raveled around Viola's thoughts when she noticed that she wasn't feeling any symptom of hepatitis, but rather symptoms of pregnancy persistently manifested in her.
"Mum, don't you think I should try going to another hospital to have a checkup?" I'm still having some unfamiliar symptoms." She suggested it to her mother-in-law.
"Nooo, Viola. I don't think that is necessary. There's no place better than the hospital where you're registered. Besides, Dr. Brian is the best doctor."
"But,..."
"No but." Mrs. Vans cut her short.
"Dr. Brian has been our family doctor for over twenty years, and he has been performing perfectly well. I can only suggest that you ask him to conduct another test again."
Viola nodded in agreement.But deep down in her mind, she was not convinced by Mrs. Vans' words.
Immediately after Viola left for her room to have a gnap, Mrs. Vans picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Dr. Brian. She's beginning to doubt the result. But I've convinced her not to try another hospital. Please, I need you to convince her as well to stick to your hospital."
That same evening, Viola received a text message from Dr. Brian, scheduling an appointment with her the next day in the morning.
"Huh, I thought my next appointment with him was supposed to be in the next two weeks. Then why tomorrow?" She thought as her mind flies with different assumptions.
Immediately after the day break, Viola wasted no time getting herself ready for the appointment.
"Come in," doctor Brian responded to a knock on his door.
"Good morning, doctor. I received your text yesterday." She said.
"Yes, Mrs. Leo. I'm sorry I didn't inform you on time. You're supposed to have another test conducted after two weeks of taking your drugs, so that we can know how far we've gone with treating the ailment." He explained.
"Oh, I hope the result comes out good. Because I don't feel any symptoms of hepatitis in me. Instead, I feel..." She paused without completing her statement.
"Allow him to make his confirmations. You don't have to tell a doctor what you're suspecting." A voice whispered in her.