There was no cruelty in it.
Only exhaustion.
Now, as Dr. Shah introduced herself, Sophie’s hand gripped the blanket.
I sat in the chair closest to the door, unsure whether I should leave.
Sophie glanced at me.
“Stay,” she said.
One word.
It nearly broke me.
Dr. Shah explained the results slowly. The tumor was serious, but not as advanced as they had feared. There were treatment options. Surgery would likely be necessary, followed by medication and close monitoring. The road would be difficult, but there was reason to hope.
Hope.
The word entered the room quietly, almost suspiciously, as if no one trusted it yet.
Linda began crying first.
Sophie didn’t cry.
She listened carefully, asking practical questions in a voice that hardly shook.
What were the risks?
How soon?
How long would recovery take?
Would treatment affect her ability to have children?
At that question, Dr. Shah paused.
The room changed.
“There may be fertility implications,” she said gently. “Given your history and the location of the tumor, pregnancy could be complicated in the future. Not impossible, but complicated. We would involve specialists before any decisions.”
Sophie nodded once.
But I saw what the answer cost her.
