Page 12 of Take a Moment

‘It was just a stupid fall.’ I find myself wondering why I keep having to justify that to everyone. ‘Look at me. Do I look like you’re going to lose me?’

‘Well, no.’ Dom meets my gaze and I can tell he’s been really spooked by this. ‘You look a bit tired, but otherwise, just like the woman I proposed to.’

‘There you go, see. You can stop being silly now.’

‘OK, boss. How about I sort out that water jug then?’

‘Good thinking.’

He heads out of the room and makes his way down the corridor towards the nurses’ station. I lie quietly for a moment waiting for him to return, and as I do an unwelcome thought insinuates itself into my head: what if Dr Harlow isn’t mistaken? What if I do have MS?

Annoyed at myself for even allowing these ideas through, I snatch my iPad from the bedside cabinet and resume scrolling through my wedding-related boards on Pinterest. I’ve just got too much time on my hands. I’m a doer. I live life through action and achievement. My job is something I enjoy and I am successful at it. Being stuck here, it’s like caging a bird. I need my freedom back.

I look up expectantly as someone enters the room, but it’s not Dom, it’s another consultant. A man this time. He’s a bit younger than Dr Harlow, not by much, but he seems more human. He nods and smiles at the other patients as he makes his way through the room.

‘Alex?’ He addresses me as he approaches my bed. ‘I gather that is what you prefer to be called?’

‘That’s right.’ I cringe a little, realising that the naming issue has obviously been discussed with Dr Harlow. ‘Are you my second opinion?’

I glance uncertainly at the door, hoping Dom will remain on his quest long enough for me to get the information I need, or to be able to put this guy off until later.

‘That is correct,’ he confirms. ‘My name is Dr Salessi. I am a consultant neurologist here in the hospital. I have been here for twenty years, diagnosing and working with patients with a range of neurological diseases.’

Why is he practically regurgitating his CV? I’m not interviewing him for a job. He must be making sure I know that he’s experienced and that I can trust his judgement – or, to put it another way, that I shouldn’t question his judgement. This irks me slightly but I force a smile as he pulls the curtain round my bed.

‘The nurse said your fiancé is here?’

‘He is. But he’s gone to find a water jug. No need to wait, you must be very busy.’

‘Sure. Just let me double-check something in your notes first.’ Dr Salessi seems to be stalling for time.

‘Knock, knock.’ Dom’s head appears round the curtain. ‘All right to join you?’

‘Ah, you must be Alex’s fiancé. I am Dr Salessi. And you are…?’

‘Dominic.’ Dom shakes his hand briskly.

‘Alex, are you happy to have Dominic join us?’ Dr Salessi asks. ‘Or would you prefer to speak to me alone? It is your decision.’

Karma has come back for a second bite of revenge. It’s Dom that’s looking at me expectantly this time. There’s no way I can say no.

‘Obviously, it’s fine.’ I wave Dom inside.

Dom enters the makeshift cubicle with an empty plastic water jug, sets it down on my bedside cabinet and stuffs the bouquet of flowers into it.

‘What have I missed?’ He takes a seat.

‘Nothing. We were just at the stage of introductions,’ says Dr Salessi. ‘I was just telling Alex that I have been a consultant neurologist here in the hospital for twenty years, diagnosing and working with patients with a range of neurological diseases.’

‘Right…’ Dom looks understandably confused. ‘I may be behind the curve on this one, but is a concussion classified as a neurological disease?’

He looks to me to check if I am confused as well. I pretend there’s something causing me discomfort in my bed and start to overzealously rearrange my covers. I only need to stall long enough for Dr Salessi to confirm there’s been an error in the diagnosis.

‘You are not “behind the curve”,’ Dr Salessi clarifies. ‘We do not classify concussion as a neurological disease. I am not here to discuss Alex’s concussion.’

‘Ah, you must be the second opinion Alex asked for?’

‘I am indeed here to provide that. Alex was visited by my colleague, Dr Harlow, earlier this morning. Dr Harlow explained to Alex that the anomalies on her MRI scan were in fact what we call lesions – that is damage to the nerves in the brain. It is caused by an autoimmune condition called multiple sclerosis or MS.’

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