Helen Thompson leaned forward, her eyes fixed with unyielding intensity on the woman across the table. The air in the living room felt thick with expectation. “You two seem to have such a serious relationship now,” she said insistently, almost demanding. “When are you planning the wedding, then?”
Emily managed a strained smile, carefully picking her words to avoid upsetting her future mother-in-law. “I don’t think it’s the right time yet,” she answered. “We’ve only been living together for a month. We ought to wait a while, get to know each other better in daily life. Who knows, we might end up bickering over nothing.”
Helen arched one eyebrow but refused to drop the matter. In truth, she preferred Emily far more than Nathan’s last girlfriend, Rebecca, who had been impossible and rude. It was a relief when Nathan had finally walked away from her.
“And how is everything with Oliver?” she asked, shifting the subject while keeping her stare sharp. “The boy’s nearly grown, but still…”
Emily felt a gentle warmth rise in her chest at the mention of Nathan’s son. Memories of those early days together flooded back uninvited. Back then, she had fretted endlessly: how would the teenager take to a new woman in the house? Would he view her as a threat, an attempt to step into his mother’s place?
“He’s lovely,” Emily replied honestly, her smile softening into something more natural. “Of course I was anxious at first. I worried Oliver might resent me or keep his distance. But it all worked out for the best. He turned out to be such an open and kind-hearted lad.”
She paused briefly, recalling the afternoon Oliver returned from school and tried her homemade pie with such enthusiasm, announcing that from now on there would always be proper meals in the house.
“More than that,” Emily went on with a faint smirk, “he was genuinely pleased that someone better at cooking would be handling the meals instead of his father. He even asks me to show him a few recipes now and then.”
Nathan, who had sat quietly through the exchange until then, finally lifted his gaze and gave a short nod in agreement. A subtle smile crossed his face for a moment, revealing his own quiet satisfaction that things between his son and Emily had settled so smoothly.
“And he’s not pushing for a little brother yet?” Helen inquired with a clear undercurrent.
Nathan winced at his mother’s question and shot her a brief, reproachful glance. His expression plainly said, “Why bring that up again?” He knew her habits all too wellshe never shied away from the most sensitive subjects, as if unaware how uncomfortable they could make others.
“What’s the harm in asking?” Helen continued without the slightest embarrassment, her tone bright and almost teasing, as though discussing something perfectly ordinary. “Oliver adores children; he’s always playing with his cousins. And you’re only thirty-fiveyou’ve still got time to raise a couple of little ones!”
Emily felt a surge of awkwardness building inside her. It was unsettling to discuss such a private and painful matter with a woman she barely knew. She tightened her grip on her fingers beneath the table, forcing her face to stay composed.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” she said evenly, keeping her voice level. “The doctors have strongly advised against me having children.”
For a moment, silence settled over the room. Helen raised her eyebrows slightly as she processed the words. Her expression shifted instantlythe earlier friendly mask dissolved, giving way to a cold, distant look.
“Women’s troubles, is it?” she murmured with forced sympathy, a trace of condescension slipping into her tone. “But you shouldn’t give upmedicine keeps advancing. Things that once seemed impossible are handled without much trouble these days.”
Emily let out a soft sigh. She wanted to shut down the topic, yet she knew simply staying quiet wouldn’t work. She glanced at Nathan, hoping for some support, but he merely shrugged as if to say, “You’re on your own with this.”
“In my case, it wouldn’t make a difference,” she said quietly, staring straight ahead. Truthfully, she couldn’t understand why she had to bare her soul to this near-stranger. But silence wasn’t an option eithershe might jump to conclusions. “I have serious problems with my eyesight. The diagnosis came when I was eighteenI’ve had years to come to terms with it. I won’t be able to have children.”
Helen froze briefly, clearly struggling to absorb the information. Her eyebrows lifted in genuine puzzlement, as if confronting something entirely baffling.
“What does eyesight have to do with children?” she asked, tilting her head. She saw no connection whatsoever and even wondered if it was merely a weak excuse. “I don’t follow.”
Emily drew a deep breath, searching for the right words. She had no wish to delve into medical specifics, but there was no dodging the question.
“There’s a ninety percent chance I’ll lose my sight,” she explained in a steady, controlled voice. “That kind of strain on the body is completely out of the question for meit’s far too dangerous. It’s simply not worth the risk. What good is having a child you might never even see?”
She stopped to let the words sink in. Emily adjusted her glasses nervously. It mattered that Helen grasped this wasn’t some passing fancy or a bid to stay slim. It was a genuine threat.
Emily could sense the disappointment thickening in the room. Helen made no further effort to chat, only casting occasional glances her way, each one laced with open disapproval. Clearly, this wasn’t the daughter-in-law she had picturedsomeone healthy and vibrant who would soon present her with grandchildren.
Yet Emily felt no guilt and no urge to defend herself. She and Nathan had talked it through thoroughly long ago, weighing every angle. Meetings with specialists, evenings poring over information, honest conversations between themall had led to the same conclusion. The danger to her health was too severe, and neither wanted to expose her to it. If needed, they could look into adoption or surrogacy. These days, it wasn’t so complicated to arrange.
When the couple finally began to gather their things, the mood eased a fraction. Helen embraced her son at the door and gave Emily a nod, though the gesture lacked any real warmthmore a matter of politeness. As they slipped on their shoes in the hallway, Emily caught Nathan’s eye. His look carried a silent apology.
Outside, they both exhaled in relief. The evening air seemed crisp and clean after the strained discussion. Emily reached for Nathan’s hand, and he squeezed her fingers in return. Nothing was said about what had passed, but they both knew the visit with his mother hadn’t gone well. Still, it changed nothing about their choice to stay together, regardless of others’ hopes or judgments.
Three months later.
Emily noticed more and more that she wasn’t feeling quite right. At first she dismissed itprobably just worn out from work or a touch of a bug. But when the discomfort lingered for days, worry began to creep in.
A constant mild fatigue weighed on her, nausea rose most mornings, and everyday scents suddenly turned irritating. Emily tried to manage on her own, picking up cold remedies at the pharmacy, drinking extra water, and turning in earlier. Yet nothing improved. She found herself losing focus at work and dragging herself through the evenings, exhausted despite doing little that was demanding.
One evening, during a call with her mum, Emily let slip some of her concerns. Her voice came out subduedshe still carried that odd heaviness she couldn’t shake.
“Emily,” her mum asked after a brief pause, cautiously, “are you absolutely sure you’re not pregnant?”
Emily paused, taken aback by the suggestion. She thought for a moment before replying with certainty.
“Completely! I’ve never skipped a single pill. The doctor prescribed them after a full check-up, and I’ve followed the instructions exactly.”
Her mum didn’t press further, but her tone held steady insistence.
“Buy a test anywayfor your own peace of mind. This is too important to ignore.”
Emily had been ready to argue it couldn’t be pregnancy, yet something in her mum’s voice gave her pause. A test was quick and straightforward, after all, and a bit of extra reassurance wouldn’t hurt.
“All right, Mum. I’ll head to the pharmacy now. Nathan’s at work, so I’ve got time,” Emily said and ended the call.
She grabbed her coat, pulled it on, and stepped out of the flat. The pharmacy in the building next door was only a short walkfive minutes at most. Emily moved briskly, as though outpacing the questions circling in her mind: “What if Mum’s right? But how could it happen? Everything was under control…”
Inside the pharmacy, she hesitated before the row of test kits. There were far more options than expectedvarious brands and styles. Emily glanced uncertainly at the pharmacist, then back at the shelves. At last she selected two from a mid-priced rangeno sense cutting corners on something like this. She paid, tucked them into her pocket, and hurried back.
At home, she paused in the hallway, trying to steady a flutter of nerves. Her hands shook slightly as she unpacked the tests. She followed the directions precisely and waited.
The minutes crawled by unbearably. Emily kept checking the clock, then the tests. Suddenly two clear lines appeared on the first. She checked the secondclear lines there too.
“How can this be?!” she blurted out, a rush of confusion surging through her. “It’s impossible! I was so careful!”
Just then the doorbell rang sharply. Emily startled. She checked the timeit was too early for a casual visitor. Then it clicked: it had to be Oliver. The teenager often forgot his keys when rushing home from school.
Emily quickly dropped the tests into the bin, smoothed her hair, and went to the door. Opening it, she found Oliver on the step, slightly breathless with his backpack slung over one shoulder.
“Forgot your keys again?” she said with a smile, stepping aside to let him in.
“Yeah,” Oliver nodded sheepishly, kicking off his trainers. “I rushed to get ready and only realised once I was outside…”
Emily headed straight for the kitchen to feed the clearly hungry boy. She had no idea one of the tests had missed the bin and now lay exposed on the floor.
“Nathan, I’m going to stay with my mum for a weekshe’s not well,” Emily said, avoiding her fiancé’s eyes. Lying to the man she loved felt awful, but she couldn’t reveal everything right now. She had no other choice. Risking her health was out of the questionthe decision was final.
Nathan looked up from his laptop at once, concern plain in his face.
“Do you need anything?” he asked quickly. “Shall I fetch some medicine? Or come along? She shouldn’t be on her own.”
Emily smiled despite herselfwarmly, though tinged with guilt. His eagerness to help touched her, yet it only made things harder.
“Nothing yet, thanks,” she replied as steadily as she could. “I’ll call if I need to.”
She turned away and continued packing a small overnight bag. Jumper, jeans, a few tops, underwear, toothbrush. Time pressed on herthe last bus to the nearby town left in under an hour, and she still had to reach the station. Her mum would meet her there, a small comfort: at least someone who would understand without probing.
“Keep in touch, will you? Call straight away if anything’s wrong. I can be there in no time.”
“Of course,” Emily nodded, leaning into him briefly. “I’ll be back soon. You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
The trip to the station passed in a blur. She checked her phone repeatedly for messages from Nathan or calls from her mum. Her thoughts spun, but the plan stayed clear: arrive, handle what needed handling, return. Then, once things calmed, she would speak to Nathan honestly, without half-truths.
The following day Emily visited a private clinic. She had booked ahead online, chosen the doctor based on reviews, and arranged everything to avoid awkward questions. The appointment moved quickly: examination, blood tests, scan. The doctor, a middle-aged woman with a calm manner, reviewed the results carefully, confirmed the dates, and asked about her history once more.
“Yes, you are pregnant,” she said at last. “Early stages, around five or six weeks.”
Emily nodded without a word. A faint hope had lingered that it was all a mistake, the tests wrong, the results mixed up. But now there was no doubt.
“But I’ve been taking the pills! How could this happen?” Her voice wavered, carrying confusion and barely held emotion. How was it possible? She had followed every instruction!
The doctor tilted her head. She took her time before answering, first stacking the papers neatly, then meeting Emily’s eyes.
“The medication might have been faulty,” she offered in a professional tone. “Or other factors could have affected itantibiotics taken at the same time, missed doses, stomach issues. It happens, though not often.”
She waited a moment, watching Emily’s reaction, then continued gently.
“I gather you’re not planning to continue the pregnancy?”
Emily shut her eyes briefly. She had asked herself the same question over and over these past days. The old warnings from years ago echoed in her mind, the risks that had never gone away. She breathed deeply and spoke, forcing firmness into her voice.
“The chance of losing my sight is nine in ten. Do you think I should take that chance?”
The doctor nodded with understanding. She had already seen the notes and knew the risk was real. Given that, Emily’s choice made sense.
“I understand,” she said softly. “This is a serious decision, and it’s yours to make based on your health. I’ll write referrals for further tests. They’ll give us a clearer picture and help decide the best next steps.”
She turned to her computer, entered details, and printed several forms. She folded them and passed them over.
“Come back tomorrow for a follow-up. We’ll have the results by then and can talk about what comes next. If questions arise or you feel unwell, ring the clinicthey’ll put you through to me.”
Emily took the papers and smoothed them absently. Her mind still raced, but the thoughts felt slightly more ordered. She gave a brief nod of thanks and rose slowly. In the corridor she paused against the wall, drawing a long breath in and out. Tomorrow would bring something new.
“Emily!” Nathan’s voice burst through the phone with such excitement that she tensed at once. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Emily’s chest tightened. She gripped the phone harder, fighting a sudden shake in her hand.
“Tell you what?” she asked warily, keeping her tone even. The fear flashed: “Has he found out? How?”
“That you’re pregnant!” Nathan said, pure delight in his voice, as though picturing their future already.
Emily closed her eyes for a moment, gathering herself.
“What makes you say that?” she replied calmly, though her heart hammered.
“I found the test with two lines on the floor,” Nathan explained, no doubt or worry in his wordsonly joy. “I’ve booked you with a top specialist. Shall we go together? I want to be there for you.”
Emily exhaled slowly, choosing her words. She had to temper his excitement without wounding him.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” she said gently but firmly. “It’s probably a mistake. You know I’m on the pills. I followed everything exactlyno skips. This can’t be real.”
A silence stretched on the line. Emily could almost feel Nathan wrestling with her words.
“Well, about that…” he hesitated, embarrassment creeping in. “Mum stopped by recently. She saw your pills and started saying your condition isn’t as serious as all that. She mentioned plenty of people have children despite worse problems, and it turns out fine. She gave examples, talked about modern ways to manage pregnancy. She pushed so hard that… well, I listened.”
Nathan went quiet, waiting. Emily listened in silence, a storm of conflicting feelings rising. Part of her understood he had simply wanted to hope. Another part burned at the interference in their private life.
“So she talked you into tampering with my pills?” she asked evenly, though fury simmered beneath.
“No, not like that!” Nathan said quickly. “Nothing underhanded. She just persuaded me not to stick so rigidly to the rules. That we could try taking a chance. I didn’t realise it could lead to this. I’m sorry.”
An icy dread slid down Emily’s spine. Words caught in her throat, and she forced the question out.
“What did you actually do?”
Nathan stared down, fingers tightening on the table edge. He looked uneasy but pushed on.
“I… dropped your bottle by accident and the pills went everywhere. Then I thoughtmaybe it’s a sign? So I swapped them for vitamins. I wanted us to have a baby. Mum convinced me it would all be fine.”
Emily stood motionless, trying to make sense of it. The idea that the man she loved could do this refused to settle. She had explained repeatedly how vital the daily doses were, what even one miss could cost, the dangers involved.
“You’re serious?” Her voice shook. She clenched her fists as anger surged. “You did this on purpose? You listened to your mother and replaced the medicine?”
Nathan shifted awkwardly, searching for an escape.
“I thought it would be better for our family,” he said quietly, eyes down.
“For the family?” Emily could no longer hold back. Anger made her voice unsteady, but she spoke clearly so he would grasp the weight. “You never asked me! You knew my diagnosis, knew the risksand you still went behind my back!”
She stopped, willing her hands to steady. Her temples throbbed, thoughts tangled, but one fact stood out: she couldn’t keep talking now.
“I just wanted children,” Nathan tried, his voice almost pleading. “I believed we could face anything together.”
Emily breathed deeply, forcing calm. She needed space to think.
“I can’t talk about this right now,” she said more steadily, though emotions still churned. “Can you meet me the day after tomorrow? At the park around midday?”
“Of course I’ll come!” Nathan replied at once, hope returning to his voice. “Everything will work out, I’m sure!”
Emily didn’t argue or explain. She simply needed the call to end.
“See you then,” she said shortly and hung up.
Rage boiled inside her. Nathan’s words looped in her headhow he had “accidentally” dropped the bottle, then deliberately replaced the essential medication with vitamins. He had known every risk, every warning from the doctors over the years, how critical it was never to miss a dose. Yet he had chosen to believe his mother, who had no medical training yet insisted “it would all be fine.”
The thought seared her. How could he treat her health and life so casually? Emily saw clearly that with this disregard for trust, respect, and care, there was no future. And she was determined to tell him so the day after tomorrow.
Nathan reached the park half an hour early on the chosen day. He had bought a bouquet of white rosesher favouritesand now paced nervously by the entrance, checking his watch. Hope still flickered: perhaps Emily had simply been overwhelmed, and once they talked he could show he had meant well. He pictured her accepting the flowers, her expression softening, the two of them deciding the path forward together.
But when Emily arrived exactly at noon, arm linked with her brother’s, her face was cold and unreadable. She didn’t spare a glance for the flowers Nathan held out. Instead she pulled a sheet of paper from her bag and offered it to him without a word.
“What is this? I don’t understand,” Nathan said, thrown by her icy manner. He tried to meet her eyes, but Emily looked past him.
“It means there won’t be a child,” she said flatly. “You knew about my diagnosis. You knew and still put my health in danger by listening to your mother. I’ll never forgive it. I’ll collect my things tomorrow. And I won’t come aloneI’m bringing my brother to keep things straightforward.”
She turned and walked off without waiting. Nathan stepped after her instinctively.
“Emily, wait! Let’s talk!”
She didn’t look back, only quickened her stride. He started after her, unable to hold back, but JackEmily’s older brothermoved into his path. Jack stood solid, feet planted, and regarded Nathan with no sympathy. His stance made it plain: “Don’t even try.”
Nathan tried to step around, but Jack held his ground, one hand raised to keep the distance.
“You’re lying through your teeth!” Nathan shouted, voice cracking with rage and desperation. He felt everything he had hoped for crumbling. “I spoke to doctors myself! They said with today’s medicine the risks are tiny! You just don’t want a childthat’s why you’re inventing excuses!”
Emily turned slowly. Her face was pale, yet her expression stayed calm, almost distant. No tearsjust the firm resolve she had carried through these days.
“You went to doctors without me? Talked about my health with strangers?” Her voice was quiet, yet each word struck hard. “Do you even know my exact diagnosis? Or did you just walk in and say my fiancée might go blind?”
Nathan flinched. The question caught him off guardhe had believed his actions understandable, that Emily would see his side. He clenched his fists and tried to steady himself.
“I was thinking about our future! Our family!” His voice was strained but earnest. “You said yourself you were open to adoption or surrogacy. Why not give our own child a chance?”
Emily drew a long breath. Pain flashed across her facethe pain she had tried to hide behind resolve.
“Because this isn’t some game, Nathan!” True feeling broke through at last. “This is my life, my body, my sight. Do you understand I could lose my vision completely? That I’d be helpless, unable to work or look after myself? Did you stop to think what living in darkness would be like?”
She waited, giving him space to take it in, but he was already starting to speak.
“But the doctors said”
“What doctors?” she cut in sharply, bitterness edging her words. “The ones you saw in secret? Did you ask them about complication rates? Real cases? Do you know how many women with my condition lose their sight while pregnant? Noyou heard only what you wanted.”
Nathan fell silent. Resentment still burned in his eyes, but something else stirred therea dawning sense that he might have crossed a line.
“You broke my trust,” Emily went on, quieter yet no less steady. “You knew how important those pills were to me. You knew I’d spent years learning to live with this, accepting it. And you wiped it all away with one choice.”
Jack took a step closer. His hands itched to set the failed fiancé straight, but he held back for his sister’s sake.
“I want nothing more to do with you,” Emily said, straightening, her voice cold and even once more. “I won’t live wondering every day what stunt you’ll pull next.”
Nathan opened his mouth, but no words came. He searched her face for any flicker of doubt, any opening to repair what had broken. There was only ice and disdain.
Emily turned and walked away. Nathan wanted to call after her but found he couldn’t. He stood watching as her figure faded into the gathering dusk, Jack beside herquiet, sure, shielding her peace.
When they were gone from sight, Nathan sank onto the nearest bench. The bouquet of white roses still hung in his hands, never given, never received.
He stared at the soft petals and understood for the first time that he had lost more than the child he had wanted. He had lost the woman he loved.
One thought repeated: “What if she was right?” But it was already too late.Helen Thompson leaned forward, her eyes fixed with unyielding intensity on the woman across the table. The air in the living room felt thick with expectation. “You two seem to have such a serious relationship now,” she said insistently, almost demanding. “When are you planning the wedding, then?”
Emily managed a strained smile, carefully picking her words to avoid upsetting her future mother-in-law. “I don’t think it’s the right time yet,” she answered. “We’ve only been living together for a month. We ought to wait a while, get to know each other better in daily life. Who knows, we might end up bickering over nothing.”
Helen arched one eyebrow but refused to drop the matter. In truth, she preferred Emily far more than Nathan’s last girlfriend, Rebecca, who had been impossible and rude. It was a relief when Nathan had finally walked away from her.
“And how is everything with Oliver?” she asked, shifting the subject while keeping her stare sharp. “The boy’s nearly grown, but still…”
Emily felt a gentle warmth rise in her chest at the mention of Nathan’s son. Memories of those early days together flooded back uninvited. Back then, she had fretted endlessly: how would the teenager take to a new woman in the house? Would he view her as a threat, an attempt to step into his mother’s place?
“He’s lovely,” Emily replied honestly, her smile softening into something more natural. “Of course I was anxious at first. I worried Oliver might resent me or keep his distance. But it all worked out for the best. He turned out to be such an open and kind-hearted lad.”
She paused briefly, recalling the afternoon Oliver returned from school and tried her homemade pie with such enthusiasm, announcing that from now on there would always be proper meals in the house.
“More than that,” Emily went on with a faint smirk, “he was genuinely pleased that someone better at cooking would be handling the meals instead of his father. He even asks me to show him a few recipes now and then.”
Nathan, who had sat quietly through the exchange until then, finally lifted his gaze and gave a short nod in agreement. A subtle smile crossed his face for a moment, revealing his own quiet satisfaction that things between his son and Emily had settled so smoothly.
“And he’s not pushing for a little brother yet?” Helen inquired with a clear undercurrent.
Nathan winced at his mother’s question and shot her a brief, reproachful glance. His expression plainly said, “Why bring that up again?” He knew her habits all too wellshe never shied away from the most sensitive subjects, as if unaware how uncomfortable they could make others.
“What’s the harm in asking?” Helen continued without the slightest embarrassment, her tone bright and almost teasing, as though discussing something perfectly ordinary. “Oliver adores children; he’s always playing with his cousins. And you’re only thirty-fiveyou’ve still got time to raise a couple of little ones!”
Emily felt a surge of awkwardness building inside her. It was unsettling to discuss such a private and painful matter with a woman she barely knew. She tightened her grip on her fingers beneath the table, forcing her face to stay composed.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” she said evenly, keeping her voice level. “The doctors have strongly advised against me having children.”
For a moment, silence settled over the room. Helen raised her eyebrows slightly as she processed the words. Her expression shifted instantlythe earlier friendly mask dissolved, giving way to a cold, distant look.
“Women’s troubles, is it?” she murmured with forced sympathy, a trace of condescension slipping into her tone. “But you shouldn’t give upmedicine keeps advancing. Things that once seemed impossible are handled without much trouble these days.”
Emily let out a soft sigh. She wanted to shut down the topic, yet she knew simply staying quiet wouldn’t work. She glanced at Nathan, hoping for some support, but he merely shrugged as if to say, “You’re on your own with this.”
“In my case, it wouldn’t make a difference,” she said quietly, staring straight ahead. Truthfully, she couldn’t understand why she had to bare her soul to this near-stranger. But silence wasn’t an option eithershe might jump to conclusions. “I have serious problems with my eyesight. The diagnosis came when I was eighteenI’ve had years to come to terms with it. I won’t be able to have children.”
Helen froze briefly, clearly struggling to absorb the information. Her eyebrows lifted in genuine puzzlement, as if confronting something entirely baffling.
“What does eyesight have to do with children?” she asked, tilting her head. She saw no connection whatsoever and even wondered if it was merely a weak excuse. “I don’t follow.”
Emily drew a deep breath, searching for the right words. She had no wish to delve into medical specifics, but there was no dodging the question.
“There’s a ninety percent chance I’ll lose my sight,” she explained in a steady, controlled voice. “That kind of strain on the body is completely out of the question for meit’s far too dangerous. It’s simply not worth the risk. What good is having a child you might never even see?”
She stopped to let the words sink in. Emily adjusted her glasses nervously. It mattered that Helen grasped this wasn’t some passing fancy or a bid to stay slim. It was a genuine threat.
Emily could sense the disappointment thickening in the room. Helen made no further effort to chat, only casting occasional glances her way, each one laced with open disapproval. Clearly, this wasn’t the daughter-in-law she had picturedsomeone healthy and vibrant who would soon present her with grandchildren.
Yet Emily felt no guilt and no urge to defend herself. She and Nathan had talked it through thoroughly long ago, weighing every angle. Meetings with specialists, evenings poring over information, honest conversations between themall had led to the same conclusion. The danger to her health was too severe, and neither wanted to expose her to it. If needed, they could look into adoption or surrogacy. These days, it wasn’t so complicated to arrange.
When the couple finally began to gather their things, the mood eased a fraction. Helen embraced her son at the door and gave Emily a nod, though the gesture lacked any real warmthmore a matter of politeness. As they slipped on their shoes in the hallway, Emily caught Nathan’s eye. His look carried a silent apology.
Outside, they both exhaled in relief. The evening air seemed crisp and clean after the strained discussion. Emily reached for Nathan’s hand, and he squeezed her fingers in return. Nothing was said about what had passed, but they both knew the visit with his mother hadn’t gone well. Still, it changed nothing about their choice to stay together, regardless of others’ hopes or judgments.
Three months later.
Emily noticed more and more that she wasn’t feeling quite right. At first she dismissed itprobably just worn out from work or a touch of a bug. But when the discomfort lingered for days, worry began to creep in.
A constant mild fatigue weighed on her, nausea rose most mornings, and everyday scents suddenly turned irritating. Emily tried to manage on her own, picking up cold remedies at the pharmacy, drinking extra water, and turning in earlier. Yet nothing improved. She found herself losing focus at work and dragging herself through the evenings, exhausted despite doing little that was demanding.
One evening, during a call with her mum, Emily let slip some of her concerns. Her voice came out subduedshe still carried that odd heaviness she couldn’t shake.
“Emily,” her mum asked after a brief pause, cautiously, “are you absolutely sure you’re not pregnant?”
Emily paused, taken aback by the suggestion. She thought for a moment before replying with certainty.
“Completely! I’ve never skipped a single pill. The doctor prescribed them after a full check-up, and I’ve followed the instructions exactly.”
Her mum didn’t press further, but her tone held steady insistence.
“Buy a test anywayfor your own peace of mind. This is too important to ignore.”
Emily had been ready to argue it couldn’t be pregnancy, yet something in her mum’s voice gave her pause. A test was quick and straightforward, after all, and a bit of extra reassurance wouldn’t hurt.
“All right, Mum. I’ll head to the pharmacy now. Nathan’s at work, so I’ve got time,” Emily said and ended the call.
She grabbed her coat, pulled it on, and stepped out of the flat. The pharmacy in the building next door was only a short walkfive minutes at most. Emily moved briskly, as though outpacing the questions circling in her mind: “What if Mum’s right? But how could it happen? Everything was under control…”
Inside the pharmacy, she hesitated before the row of test kits. There were far more options than expectedvarious brands and styles. Emily glanced uncertainly at the pharmacist, then back at the shelves. At last she selected two from a mid-priced rangeno sense cutting corners on something like this. She paid, tucked them into her pocket, and hurried back.
At home, she paused in the hallway, trying to steady a flutter of nerves. Her hands shook slightly as she unpacked the tests. She followed the directions precisely and waited.
The minutes crawled by unbearably. Emily kept checking the clock, then the tests. Suddenly two clear lines appeared on the first. She checked the secondclear lines there too.
“How can this be?!” she blurted out, a rush of confusion surging through her. “It’s impossible! I was so careful!”
Just then the doorbell rang sharply. Emily startled. She checked the timeit was too early for a casual visitor. Then it clicked: it had to be Oliver. The teenager often forgot his keys when rushing home from school.
Emily quickly dropped the tests into the bin, smoothed her hair, and went to the door. Opening it, she found Oliver on the step, slightly breathless with his backpack slung over one shoulder.
“Forgot your keys again?” she said with a smile, stepping aside to let him in.
“Yeah,” Oliver nodded sheepishly, kicking off his trainers. “I rushed to get ready and only realised once I was outside…”
Emily headed straight for the kitchen to feed the clearly hungry boy. She had no idea one of the tests had missed the bin and now lay exposed on the floor.
“Nathan, I’m going to stay with my mum for a weekshe’s not well,” Emily said, avoiding her fiancé’s eyes. Lying to the man she loved felt awful, but she couldn’t reveal everything right now. She had no other choice. Risking her health was out of the questionthe decision was final.
Nathan looked up from his laptop at once, concern plain in his face.
“Do you need anything?” he asked quickly. “Shall I fetch some medicine? Or come along? She shouldn’t be on her own.”
Emily smiled despite herselfwarmly, though tinged with guilt. His eagerness to help touched her, yet it only made things harder.
“Nothing yet, thanks,” she replied as steadily as she could. “I’ll call if I need to.”
She turned away and continued packing a small overnight bag. Jumper, jeans, a few tops, underwear, toothbrush. Time pressed on herthe last bus to the nearby town left in under an hour, and she still had to reach the station. Her mum would meet her there, a small comfort: at least someone who would understand without probing.
“Keep in touch, will you? Call straight away if anything’s wrong. I can be there in no time.”
“Of course,” Emily nodded, leaning into him briefly. “I’ll be back soon. You won’t even notice I’m gone.”
The trip to the station passed in a blur. She checked her phone repeatedly for messages from Nathan or calls from her mum. Her thoughts spun, but the plan stayed clear: arrive, handle what needed handling, return. Then, once things calmed, she would speak to Nathan honestly, without half-truths.
The following day Emily visited a private clinic. She had booked ahead online, chosen the doctor based on reviews, and arranged everything to avoid awkward questions. The appointment moved quickly: examination, blood tests, scan. The doctor, a middle-aged woman with a calm manner, reviewed the results carefully, confirmed the dates, and asked about her history once more.
“Yes, you are pregnant,” she said at last. “Early stages, around five or six weeks.”
Emily nodded without a word. A faint hope had lingered that it was all a mistake, the tests wrong, the results mixed up. But now there was no doubt.
“But I’ve been taking the pills! How could this happen?” Her voice wavered, carrying confusion and barely held emotion. How was it possible? She had followed every instruction!
The doctor tilted her head. She took her time before answering, first stacking the papers neatly, then meeting Emily’s eyes.
“The medication might have been faulty,” she offered in a professional tone. “Or other factors could have affected itantibiotics taken at the same time, missed doses, stomach issues. It happens, though not often.”
She waited a moment, watching Emily’s reaction, then continued gently.
“I gather you’re not planning to continue the pregnancy?”
Emily shut her eyes briefly. She had asked herself the same question over and over these past days. The old warnings from years ago echoed in her mind, the risks that had never gone away. She breathed deeply and spoke, forcing firmness into her voice.
“The chance of losing my sight is nine in ten. Do you think I should take that chance?”
The doctor nodded with understanding. She had already seen the notes and knew the risk was real. Given that, Emily’s choice made sense.
“I understand,” she said softly. “This is a serious decision, and it’s yours to make based on your health. I’ll write referrals for further tests. They’ll give us a clearer picture and help decide the best next steps.”
She turned to her computer, entered details, and printed several forms. She folded them and passed them over.
“Come back tomorrow for a follow-up. We’ll have the results by then and can talk about what comes next. If questions arise or you feel unwell, ring the clinicthey’ll put you through to me.”
Emily took the papers and smoothed them absently. Her mind still raced, but the thoughts felt slightly more ordered. She gave a brief nod of thanks and rose slowly. In the corridor she paused against the wall, drawing a long breath in and out. Tomorrow would bring something new.
“Emily!” Nathan’s voice burst through the phone with such excitement that she tensed at once. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Emily’s chest tightened. She gripped the phone harder, fighting a sudden shake in her hand.
“Tell you what?” she asked warily, keeping her tone even. The fear flashed: “Has he found out? How?”
“That you’re pregnant!” Nathan said, pure delight in his voice, as though picturing their future already.
Emily closed her eyes for a moment, gathering herself.
“What makes you say that?” she replied calmly, though her heart hammered.
“I found the test with two lines on the floor,” Nathan explained, no doubt or worry in his wordsonly joy. “I’ve booked you with a top specialist. Shall we go together? I want to be there for you.”
Emily exhaled slowly, choosing her words. She had to temper his excitement without wounding him.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” she said gently but firmly. “It’s probably a mistake. You know I’m on the pills. I followed everything exactlyno skips. This can’t be real.”
A silence stretched on the line. Emily could almost feel Nathan wrestling with her words.
“Well, about that…” he hesitated, embarrassment creeping in. “Mum stopped by recently. She saw your pills and started saying your condition isn’t as serious as all that. She mentioned plenty of people have children despite worse problems, and it turns out fine. She gave examples, talked about modern ways to manage pregnancy. She pushed so hard that… well, I listened.”
Nathan went quiet, waiting. Emily listened in silence, a storm of conflicting feelings rising. Part of her understood he had simply wanted to hope. Another part burned at the interference in their private life.
“So she talked you into tampering with my pills?” she asked evenly, though fury simmered beneath.
“No, not like that!” Nathan said quickly. “Nothing underhanded. She just persuaded me not to stick so rigidly to the rules. That we could try taking a chance. I didn’t realise it could lead to this. I’m sorry.”
An icy dread slid down Emily’s spine. Words caught in her throat, and she forced the question out.
“What did you actually do?”
Nathan stared down, fingers tightening on the table edge. He looked uneasy but pushed on.
“I… dropped your bottle by accident and the pills went everywhere. Then I thoughtmaybe it’s a sign? So I swapped them for vitamins. I wanted us to have a baby. Mum convinced me it would all be fine.”
Emily stood motionless, trying to make sense of it. The idea that the man she loved could do this refused to settle. She had explained repeatedly how vital the daily doses were, what even one miss could cost, the dangers involved.
“You’re serious?” Her voice shook. She clenched her fists as anger surged. “You did this on purpose? You listened to your mother and replaced the medicine?”
Nathan shifted awkwardly, searching for an escape.
“I thought it would be better for our family,” he said quietly, eyes down.
“For the family?” Emily could no longer hold back. Anger made her voice unsteady, but she spoke clearly so he would grasp the weight. “You never asked me! You knew my diagnosis, knew the risksand you still went behind my back!”
She stopped, willing her hands to steady. Her temples throbbed, thoughts tangled, but one fact stood out: she couldn’t keep talking now.
“I just wanted children,” Nathan tried, his voice almost pleading. “I believed we could face anything together.”
Emily breathed deeply, forcing calm. She needed space to think.
“I can’t talk about this right now,” she said more steadily, though emotions still churned. “Can you meet me the day after tomorrow? At the park around midday?”
“Of course I’ll come!” Nathan replied at once, hope returning to his voice. “Everything will work out, I’m sure!”
Emily didn’t argue or explain. She simply needed the call to end.
“See you then,” she said shortly and hung up.
Rage boiled inside her. Nathan’s words looped in her headhow he had “accidentally” dropped the bottle, then deliberately replaced the essential medication with vitamins. He had known every risk, every warning from the doctors over the years, how critical it was never to miss a dose. Yet he had chosen to believe his mother, who had no medical training yet insisted “it would all be fine.”
The thought seared her. How could he treat her health and life so casually? Emily saw clearly that with this disregard for trust, respect, and care, there was no future. And she was determined to tell him so the day after tomorrow.
Nathan reached the park half an hour early on the chosen day. He had bought a bouquet of white rosesher favouritesand now paced nervously by the entrance, checking his watch. Hope still flickered: perhaps Emily had simply been overwhelmed, and once they talked he could show he had meant well. He pictured her accepting the flowers, her expression softening, the two of them deciding the path forward together.
But when Emily arrived exactly at noon, arm linked with her brother’s, her face was cold and unreadable. She didn’t spare a glance for the flowers Nathan held out. Instead she pulled a sheet of paper from her bag and offered it to him without a word.
“What is this? I don’t understand,” Nathan said, thrown by her icy manner. He tried to meet her eyes, but Emily looked past him.
“It means there won’t be a child,” she said flatly. “You knew about my diagnosis. You knew and still put my health in danger by listening to your mother. I’ll never forgive it. I’ll collect my things tomorrow. And I won’t come aloneI’m bringing my brother to keep things straightforward.”
She turned and walked off without waiting. Nathan stepped after her instinctively.
“Emily, wait! Let’s talk!”
She didn’t look back, only quickened her stride. He started after her, unable to hold back, but JackEmily’s older brothermoved into his path. Jack stood solid, feet planted, and regarded Nathan with no sympathy. His stance made it plain: “Don’t even try.”
Nathan tried to step around, but Jack held his ground, one hand raised to keep the distance.
“You’re lying through your teeth!” Nathan shouted, voice cracking with rage and desperation. He felt everything he had hoped for crumbling. “I spoke to doctors myself! They said with today’s medicine the risks are tiny! You just don’t want a childthat’s why you’re inventing excuses!”
Emily turned slowly. Her face was pale, yet her expression stayed calm, almost distant. No tearsjust the firm resolve she had carried through these days.
“You went to doctors without me? Talked about my health with strangers?” Her voice was quiet, yet each word struck hard. “Do you even know my exact diagnosis? Or did you just walk in and say my fiancée might go blind?”
Nathan flinched. The question caught him off guardhe had believed his actions understandable, that Emily would see his side. He clenched his fists and tried to steady himself.
“I was thinking about our future! Our family!” His voice was strained but earnest. “You said yourself you were open to adoption or surrogacy. Why not give our own child a chance?”
Emily drew a long breath. Pain flashed across her facethe pain she had tried to hide behind resolve.
“Because this isn’t some game, Nathan!” True feeling broke through at last. “This is my life, my body, my sight. Do you understand I could lose my vision completely? That I’d be helpless, unable to work or look after myself? Did you stop to think what living in darkness would be like?”
She waited, giving him space to take it in, but he was already starting to speak.
“But the doctors said”
“What doctors?” she cut in sharply, bitterness edging her words. “The ones you saw in secret? Did you ask them about complication rates? Real cases? Do you know how many women with my condition lose their sight while pregnant? Noyou heard only what you wanted.”
Nathan fell silent. Resentment still burned in his eyes, but something else stirred therea dawning sense that he might have crossed a line.
“You broke my trust,” Emily went on, quieter yet no less steady. “You knew how important those pills were to me. You knew I’d spent years learning to live with this, accepting it. And you wiped it all away with one choice.”
Jack took a step closer. His hands itched to set the failed fiancé straight, but he held back for his sister’s sake.
“I want nothing more to do with you,” Emily said, straightening, her voice cold and even once more. “I won’t live wondering every day what stunt you’ll pull next.”
Nathan opened his mouth, but no words came. He searched her face for any flicker of doubt, any opening to repair what had broken. There was only ice and disdain.
Emily turned and walked away. Nathan wanted to call after her but found he couldn’t. He stood watching as her figure faded into the gathering dusk, Jack beside herquiet, sure, shielding her peace.
When they were gone from sight, Nathan sank onto the nearest bench. The bouquet of white roses still hung in his hands, never given, never received.
He stared at the soft petals and understood for the first time that he had lost more than the child he had wanted. He had lost the woman he loved.
One thought repeated: “What if she was right?” But it was already too late.