lla'

I sat behind my desk with my hands trembling slightly as I instructed one of

t to check his v

bling down my instructi

mer. Anything els

emples to ward off the headac

st keep an eye on him and let m

orders. As I watched her go, my mind raced with a t

from the desk and made my way to Andrew'

couldn't stay here, not with Lawrence as the new director of the clinic. His presence will a

awrence comes back into my life, he knows about what happene

urprised expression quickly turned

behind the desk. "You did a really good job.

ing at the corners of my lips de

I said even though I couldn't deny

eat and continued with his eye

e said sincerely. "We're lu

I could feel my hands trembling slightly with nerves. "I'm quitting, Andrew," I said softl

e read the letter. His expression then

an't be serious

s. We need you here, especially now with Lawre

was quitting, Lawrence, but I couldn

t a better job offer with

e offered you more promotion. Please you don't have to quit now we need you. The directo

sider but I can't. I have my personal reason

countenance changed and h

ave me with no choice Dr Camilla," h

he job. I was to work with them on a contract for ten years, and anything which makes m

ew that my plan of running away was now abortive because it would

ustration. "Dr Camilla, I never wanted to do this bu

ut the patients who rely on you. Yo

ment with the hospital," I announced and I sa

r Camilla,"

in reply. With that, I t

e to face with a group of familiar patient

d with trust and gratitude, and su

m exclaimed, a bright sm

u've done for us. You're the

their words washed over me, a sur

n that moment, these patients reminded me of why I had become a doctor i

of them, their gratitude filling me with a sense of purpos

t just abandon

e a drasti

ping my children hidden. Thankfully none of the hospital staff know I have chi

raight to my younger sister's place in another town. I entrusted them in h

headed to Lawrence's w

e drip, his eyes

whispered as a sharp pa

whispered wh

t reall

ze as I busied myself with adju

" I replied softly, my vo

, but his hand shot out and ca

his eyes pleading with me to

d as I pulled

left to say," I

wrence. Now you have to l

is hands were closing around

but I want to make things right. Is it a son or a

heart aching with the impossibl

venient for you," I said, my voice trembling with

g mine for some semblance of truth. "But I found the preg

emotions in check. "But... I aborted the baby. I never wanted to have anythi

standing as he reached out to me. He was

ie to me," he murmured, his v

ng. But please, let

rence. The day I terminated the pregnancy was the day I vowed never

on with my life, with someone

him my engagement finger. As Lawrence's eyes fell up

repeated wit

ce w

truggled to find the words. "Since... since re

eyes reflecting a mixture of sadness

"I should have trusted you. I also found out... about Cli

own my spine, how could he hav

I knew it was too late. Too late for f

above a whisper as I turned away from him. "I guess yo

r, leaving Lawrence alone in the ro