Chapter 2 Doctor's Appointment

I yawned, exhausted from the day's work. I really had a long day, coupled with the whole drama that happened with my boss and his girlfriend-or more like ex for a very short well, till they picked up things from where they left off.

I looked at the time and I gasped, not expecting it to be this late- the time was 8:46pm. Closing hours are 5pm but due to my workload, I had to work extra late.

Just as I started clearing up my desk, preparing to leave, my phone rang and on checking the caller ID, a smile slowly crept to the corner of my mouth.

"Heyyy!" I said, picking up, trying to sound enthusiastic despite being tired.

"Hey beautiful" Drake's voice filled my ears.

"How are you doing?" he asked

"Oh, Drake! I had such a long day, it was crazy", I exclaimed. By now I had already packed my bag and was heading out of the company.

The cool evening breeze brushed past my face, my long blonde hair slightly flying above my shoulders. I was walking to the bus station so I could get a bus home.

"Don't tell me your boss and his girl were at it again today" he said laughing.

"You already know what's happening," I replied, joining in his laughter. We exchanged more pleasantries while I walked to the bus station, he was filling me in on his day.

Drake and I have been friends since we were both freshmen at NYU. We used to attend some classes together but never really spoke to each other, until he randomly spoke to me in class one day. We basically hit it off since then and have remained friends ever since.

Drake didn't really hide his feelings for me, he mostly masked it with humor so I knew he liked me more than a just a friend but he never really approached me about it seriously-he often flirted with me occasionally but nothing concrete for me to consider, but recently, he has been more vocal about this feelings for me, he even told me he wanted something serious with me and finally confessed that he has been in love with me ever since the first time he saw me in class.

I told him I needed more time because we've been friends for so long, it would take a lot for me to start seeing him as someone more than just a friend.

He really is a good and nice guy but I just need time to sort through my feelings. These days, I've realized I'm leaning into liking him more than a friend because he makes it easier for me because of his extra sweetness and very obvious soft spot for me.

"Sooo..... What are you doing this weekend?" Drake asked coolly.

"Erm nothing really much, I have a doctor's appointment on Saturday and when I get back I want to finish up deliverables and hand them over to my boss on Monday" I replied.

"So that leaves Sunday open right?" he asked suggestively. I smiled, knowing where he was stirring the conversation to.

"Yes, that leaves Sunday free for me" I responded, smiling. The thought of seeing him makes me a little giddy.

We have both been busy these days which has made us hang out less than we usually did back in school. I have always enjoyed Drake's company even while we were strictly friends so I didn't mind at all.

"Perfect! Let's hang out this weekend and there's a dress code for you" he said

"Oh wow, what's the dress code?" I asked, playfully indulging him

"Well just put on something really pretty.... not like you don't already look more beautiful with each passing day- but something extra cos I have something important I really want to talk to you about" he said, his voice sounding sonorous. I smiled, already guessing what he wanted to talk about.

"Aye aye captain" I responded playfully while giggling. I am about two minutes away from home now.

"So I guess you must almost be home now," Drake says on cue. He knows my daily routine because he makes sure to call at least once a day.

"Yeah, I guess we'd talk tomorrow" I replied

"Bye beautiful, sweet dreams" Drake said, ending the call. I freshened up as soon as I got home and I slept off as soon as my head hit my pillow, I have had the longest day.

******

It was the day of my doctor's appointment. I got to the hospital and went to see my doctor. He referred me to the fertility section of the hospital to run some tests. I started to worry about something being wrong.

"I hope there isn't an issue Doctor Ray?" I asked, reading his name tag.

"We noticed some things that don't add up in the test we carried out, so it's better to do a full body scan to be sure" He explained, and upon seeing how my face fell, he added quickly.

"I'm sure it's nothing to worry about" He said, giving me a reassuring smile. I was led into the lab by a petite nurse.

I lay on the bed and an ointment was rubbed on my belly. After some uncomfortable minutes, the ultrasound screen went dark, and the room suddenly felt too quiet.

I pulled my blouse back down, trying to read the doctor's expression before he even spoke.

Dr. Bennett slid his chair closer, my file open in his hands. His voice was gentle, but there was a seriousness behind it.

"Okay," he began, "I want to explain this clearly so you understand what's going on with your body."

My heart thudded. "Is something wrong?"

"Not wrong," he said carefully.

"Your ovarian reserve is extremely low for your age. Based on your results, your fertility is likely to decline rapidly. I can see from your records that you're currently 29 but by the time you clock 32, there is a 95 percent chance you won't be able to conceive naturally."

I blinked. "So... what does that mean for my future?"

"It means if you want a biological child someday, the safest option is to freeze your eggs now. Except you're looking to give birth within the next 3 years. Eggs frozen at twenty-nine stay twenty-nine. Even if you try to get pregnant at forty, we would be using younger eggs. It isn't a guarantee, but it preserves your chance."

He turned the screen so I could see the chart. "Most women your age have a certain range of healthy follicles, yours is significantly below that range. You can still get pregnant naturally that's important to understand, but the window is smaller."

I swallowed. "How small?"

Dr. Bennett didn't rush. "Based on your numbers, the next three years are the most crucial. After 32, your chances of conceiving naturally drop sharply. Not impossible, just much more difficult."

The words felt heavy, pressing on my chest.

"So what do I do?"

"That depends on what you want for your future," he replied.

"If having biological children is important to you someday, I strongly recommend freezing your eggs now, while they're still healthy. Egg freezing won't pause time, but it preserves younger eggs you can use later, even if your natural fertility declines." I stared at the floor, feeling devastated.

"Will I still be able to get pregnant after 32 if I freeze them?"

"Yes," he said softly. "That's the whole point. These eggs remain the same age they are today. Even if you're 35, 38, or older, you can still try with the eggs you froze now." My fingers tightened around the edge of the chair.

"I... I didn't think this would be my reality." I whispered very quietly, the weight of his words dawning on me.

He gave me a sympathetic smile. "No one ever does. But this isn't a failure. It's information, and information gives you choices." My eyes stung, my vision starting to blur but I blinked the tears away.

"So my body is telling me to decide now," I replied sadly

"It's giving you a heads-up," he said. "And you're doing the right thing by coming in early."

He closed my file gently. "Take a day or two to process this. Freezing your eggs is entirely your choice. But medically? It gives you the best chance." I nodded slowly.

Suddenly, I was curious to know how much the procedure would cost so I asked.

"How much would this option cost?"

"I would have to check with the accounting team and get back to you on that" Dr. Bennett answers, smiling reassuringly.

He then proceeded to make inquiries immediately. I sat depressed with my thoughts until he came back. He came back several minutes later, settling back into his seat.

"Okay, let me walk you through the costs so you understand everything clearly." He says. I nodded, even though my chest already felt tight.

"The full egg-freezing cycle," he continued, "comes to about twenty thousand dollars." My eyebrows shot up.

"Twenty... what?" I asked bewildered

"Twenty thousand," he repeated gently. "That covers the hormone injections, the monitoring, the retrieval procedure, the anesthesia, and the initial freezing."

I swallowed hard. "That's... a lot."

"I know." His voice softened. "It's expensive everywhere, especially in New York. And that's just for one cycle."

"One?" My voice cracked. "So I might need more than one?"

"It's possible," he said. "Some women need two or even three cycles to collect enough eggs, depending on their ovarian reserve."

I looked down at my hands, my fingers curling into my palms. "I don't even have the money for one cycle."

He paused, then added quietly, "We also charge annual storage fees-around a thousand dollars a year. But the biggest hurdle is the initial twenty thousand."

My stomach twisted. "I can't afford that. Not even close." The tears I'd been fighting rolled down fast and made my voice shaky.

"I understand," he said, sliding a box of tissues toward me. "I know this is a lot to process. You don't have to make any decisions today. But I wanted you to have the full picture."

I nodded slowly, my throat tight. "Thank you, doctor. I just... I need a moment."

"Take all the time you need."

I stood up and dashed to the restroom instantly. The tears were now uncontrollable as I closed the bathroom door. I shakenly picked up my phone and dialed the only one who could soothe me right now.

"H-hello..... my life is ruinedddd!" I exclaimed as soon as the call connected.