The Clinic and Hope
1056 Words
After a few days, the day finally arrived. Marcus picked Rora up in the morning, his face as usual: flat, serious, and lost in his own thoughts. Rora tried not to let the silence between us break my spirits. This was a big step, and she needed to focus on her goal.
Our car pulled up in front of an elite fertility clinic in Manhattan. The building was modern, with tall glass walls and a shiny silver logo that reflected its reputation as one of the best in the city.
“I'll wait for you inside,” Marcus said, glancing at his watch.
“Do you have to go after this?” asked Rora.
“Yes, I have a meeting this afternoon. But I have enough time for this,” he replied briefly, then got out of the car.
Rora suppressed her disappointment and followed Marcus into the clinic.
“At least ask how I'm doing this morning,” Rora muttered.
In the waiting room, the atmosphere was calm but full of tension. Rora noticed the other couples sitting near us-they whispered to each other, chuckled, and looked supportive of each other. Rora looked at Marcus sitting next to her, his eyes glued to his phone screen.
“Marcus,” she called softly.
He turned his head briefly. “Hmm?”
“Do you really want to do this?” Rora asked, trying to get some reassurance from him.
He nodded. “I already agreed, Rora. Let's just do it as planned.”
Not the answer I was thinking of. I wanted him to say something more than passive agreement, but I knew Marcus. He wouldn't change.
Before I could reply, a nurse called his name. “Mr. Marcus Hale?”
“I'll go first Rora” He said.
Marcus got up, nodded at Rora, and followed the nurse to the sampling room. Rora sat alone in the waiting room, trying to calm my mind.
A few minutes later, Rora was called to see the doctor who would handle her procedure. Dr. Elise Carter was a professional-looking but friendly woman. Her smile was warm as she greeted me in the consultation room.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Aurora,” she said. “We've prepared everything necessary for the procedure. Are you feeling nervous?”
Rora nodded. “Maybe a little. But this is something I've wanted for a long time.”
“And it's a big step,” he replied. “We'll make sure that everything goes smoothly. After the procedure, you just need to rest and wait for the results in a few weeks.”
His words were reassuring, and Rora felt more confident. This is a new beginning, she thought.
When Marcus returned to the waiting room, he gave a faint smile-a hint that he had finished his part. I tried to smile back, though there was a lingering void between us.
“All right, Ms. Aurora,” Dr. Carter said as we walked into the procedure room. “It'll be quick and easy. Just a little uncomfortable, but nothing to worry about.”
Rora lay back in the examination chair, trying to focus her mind on the end result: a child, a coveted little family, something real.
When the procedure was over, Dr. Carter gave me a reassuring smile. “We're done. Good luck, ma'am.”
“Thank you doctor,” Rora said in a respectful tone.
Rora walked out of the room to meet Marcus.
“I'm done Marcus, we can go straight home”. Rora spoke and worried if Marcus waited too long. Rora was worried that waiting too long would upset him.
“”
Marcus nodded, with a flat smile from the corner of the room, remaining silent as usual. Rora nodded back softly while holding back the emotion.
Rora and Marcus headed to the parking lot and prepared to head back to their car. They drove Rora home and in the car they were silent without a word being spoken. Rora knew if she didn't start talking there would be no conversation.
“Ma......Marcus, maybe we can eat together before going home” Rora spoke hesitantly.
“What for? You know I'm busy” Marcus replied rather annoyed that his time was being wasted on such a trivial matter.
“I... I want to celebrate” Rora talked about it with a hopeful look.
Suddenly the car stopped suddenly, Rora did not pay attention to the looking ahead and suddenly Marcus said firmly and in a fairly high tone “Let me be clear, I have nothing to do with the baby. You take care of your own pregnancy because I'm not expecting the child either”
“Yes, I know Marcus, but...” Rora spoke and again said “Maybe at least you can feel a little caring for this baby already born, I guarantee you will like it” Rora hoped for a reply that could comfort her feelings.
And immediately emphasized by Marcus “Hufft... I don't want to imagine it, you know I don't really like children” Marcus said it out loud without caring about Rora's feelings. Rora heard that and felt sadness that should make her happy.
Then Marcus continued his conversation “And one more thing, you just use the apartment yourself, because I will live near the office”
“Why? Don't you want us to live together?” Rora widened her eyes and was surprised at that.
“I don't want to hear your complaints when you're pregnant, nor do I want to hear the baby's cries that will make me even more dizzy. It's very inconvenient.” Marcus' stern tone was said without any thought, that hearing it would make Rora suffer even more.
“O…kay… if that's what you want”. Rora
“”
“”
Rora and Marcus went home without saying much. She wanted to celebrate this moment, but Marcus immediately sank back into his work and left immediately after dropping her off. She spent the night alone, staring at the night sky from the window of my apartment, imagining the future that now felt closer.
“At least in the future there will be someone who will accompany my life. “Rora said hopefully while stroking her stomach under the night light.
- Writer
