Page 115 of My Best Years

I tell him I’ll think about it, even though I already know that this is where I want to be.

THIRTY-ONE

Callum

“Hello?” I answer, getting up to shut my office door.

Dr. Moreno’s warm voice comes from the other end as I take a seat behind my desk.

“Callum, hi. It’s Dr. Moreno. Do you have a few minutes to chat?”

A current of heat flushes from my head to my toes as anxiety takes over.

“Yes, of course,” I clear my throat.

The buttons on my dress shirt vibrate as my heart pounds against my chest.

“Great,” she breathes. “Well, I do have good news to share with you. But it may be a little frustrating for you to hear at the same time.”

My hand trembles as my fingers rub against my jaw.

“Okay…” I nod, inhaling a shaky breath. “I’m ready.”

“We got your lab results back this morning. Your blood work came back completely normal,” she pauses. “At this point,I would strongly suggest moving forward with a specialist. Dr. Bryan Sharpe is a wonderful neurologist that I have sent many of my patients to. I will send over a referral for you today so you can contact his office when you’re ready.”

She says she will email me his contact information, but I barely hear a word she says after that. Her calming voice goes in one ear and out the other.

All I can hear is the blood pumping against my skull and the ringing in my ears.

I put the phone on mute and run to the trash bin in the corner of my office. I make it just in time to bend over and puke up my entire lunch.

THIRTY-TWO

Birdie

3 weeks later

“I still can’t believe you moved inwith him,” Winnie exclaims from the other end of the phone. “The second you told me you ran into Callum Pierce in the grocery store, I knew you two wouldn't be able to stay away from each other. I didn’t want to say it out loud and piss you off, but in my head, I knew it.”

I recently filled Winnie in on my relationship with Callum, and each time we talk, she can’t stop gushing about how we’re seeing each other again. I was nervous about how she would react to the news, so it was relieving to hear her excitement about us.

“You’re never going to let me live this down,” I say, letting out an exasperated sigh.

“Hell no, I’m not,” she says dramatically. “You and Callum back together was not on my bingo card for this year. You two are the ultimate plot twist.”

She could say that again…

I called Winnie to try and get my mind off of the unease swirling in my gut.

Callum is currently in Dr. Sharpe’s office, going over his recent test results. I’m sitting outside in the car, anxiously biting my nails and talking to Winnie to try and calm my nerves.

Over the past few weeks, Callum has been in and out of appointments for several tests, including an MRI, spinal tap, specific blood tests, electromyography, and even genetic testing.

While I’m thankful that Dr. Sharpe is diligent and running a number of tests, it also puts into perspective how serious this could be.

I can tell that all this medical stuff is taking a toll on Callum’s mental health. He hasn’t had much of an appetite and has been sleeping more than usual.

I wish there was more I could do for him. I just feel helpless…like all I can do is pray and hope for the best.

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