When Emily was in Year 9, a new student named Oliver joined their class in October. Their form tutor, Mr. Thompson, walked in with him at the start of their first lessonEnglish Literatureand introduced him.
“Oliver will be joining our class. Hes moved here from Manchester. The reason he didnt start at the beginning of the school year is because his father is in the military and was transferred here. Oliver, go ahead and take that empty seat next to Emily.”
“Thanks,” Oliver said before settling into the spot Mr. Thompson had pointed out.
“Right, lets carry on with the lesson,” the English teacher said as the door closed behind their form tutor.
At break, some of the students came over to Oliver to introduce themselves, and he was welcomed warmly. Emily couldnt help but notice how tall and handsome he wasand she caught him looking at her just as intently.
“Oliver, where do you live?” Emily asked after school.
“On Victoria Road, number twelve”
“Oh! Were practically neighbours, then. I live at number eight,” she said with a smile, and he gazed at her with admiration.
“Lets walk together, then,” Oliver suggested, and they left the classroom.
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“An older brotherhes in his first year at a military academy. Following in Dads footsteps.”
“What about you? Have you decided yet, or do you want to join the military too?”
“Not me. Enough military in the family. Im thinking about IT, but Im still deciding. Ill figure it out by Year 11.”
“What about you?” he asked Emily.
“I want to be a doctor. Its been my dream since I was little,” she answered without hesitation. “Ive always loved taking care of peoplebandaging my parents fingers, treating our cat. Once, Mum and I even nursed a little owlet back to health. I found it in the bushes behind our housemaybe a cat had injured its wing. It hooted all nightowls are nocturnal, after all. When it was strong enough to fly around the house, we let it go outside.”
“Thats amazing. Its rare to have a dream like that from childhood.”
Lost in conversation, they barely noticed when they reached Emilys house.
“This is me. Youve got a bit further to go, havent you? See you tomorrow,” she waved before stepping inside.
Emily and Oliver quickly became close, sometimes hanging out with their friends in the evenings. When they moved up to Year 10, feelings blossomed between themand it happened for both of them at the same time.
“Mum, I never thought Id find someone who thinks like I do,” Emily told her mother. “We laugh at the same jokes, love the same food, the same filmseven our views on life match!”
“Sweetheart, when two people understand each other like that, its something special,” her mother said encouragingly. “Just keep a level headyouve still got university ahead. Dont let Olivers charm distract you from your dreams.”
“Dont worry, Mum. Oliver knows about my dream and supports it. Hes planning to study computer science too.”
Whenever Emily talked to Oliver, it felt like talking to herselfhe understood her so completely. After finishing school, they both went to university, staying together and agreeing to marry once they had their degrees.
Emily was the one who insisted on waiting. By his third year, Oliver kept suggesting otherwise.
“Maybe we should get married now. We could rent a flatother students manage it. Some even have kids already.”
“Oliver, our parents would have to pay our rentwere both broke students!”
“Well maybe I could get a part-time job somewhere,” Oliver muttered, though he didnt sound too sure.
“We agreed, remember? Degrees first, marriage after.”
They graduated, found jobs, and only then had their wedding.
“Mum, look at my degree!” Emily proudly showed her mother.
“Oh, darling, Im so proud of you. You and Oliver bothhes a good lad. And after all these years of waiting!”
They held their reception at a small restaurant, surrounded by friends and family. Emily and Oliver made a stunning couple.
After the wedding, they moved into their own place, refusing offers from both sets of parents to live with them.
Emily worked as a GP, Oliver at a big tech firm. Two years passed, and they still hadnt started a family.
“So, when are you two planning for kids?” friends would ask, and Emily would just shrug.
Truthfully, she didnt know when shed be ready. She didnt feel like she had the experience or stability to be a mother yetshe wanted to focus on her career first.
“Oliver, I think I need to grow up a bit more, gain some life experience before becoming a mum,” she told him whenever he brought up children.
Besides, she wanted to establish herself professionally. She loved her job, learning every dayif she went on maternity leave, everything would stall.
Perhaps she just wasnt ready. Some people desperately wanted children and had them regardlessfor them, family came first, not careers.
Oliver wanted kids but never pushed. He always said, “I wont rush you. The most important thing is that we love each other.”
It wasnt until Emily was nearly thirty-five, by then a department head at the hospital, that she finally felt stable enough.
“Oliver, lets have a baby. Im ready now.”
“Wow, EmilyIm so happy youve changed your mind! Of course, Im all for it. Lets get to work on that,” he laughed.
But as time passed, Emily didnt get pregnant, and worry set in.
“Has something gone wrong? Did I wait too long?”
She agonised over it, then made a decision.
“Oliver, we need to get checked out. We have to know whats wrong.”
“Absolutely. Whenever youre ready.”
They did the tests and waited for the doctors call. Both sets of parents were thrilledtheyd nearly given up hope for grandchildren.
The call came unexpectedly to Olivers phone.
“Yes, yeswell come in,” he said tightly, and Emily could see the tension in his face. “Tomorrow, then.”
“Was that the doctor?” she asked anxiously. “Why do you look so stressed? Whats wrong?”
“Im not sure, but he said there might be complications with getting pregnant.”
Oliver fell silent, lost in thoughtthen suddenly exploded in a way Emily had never seen before.
“This is all your fault!” he snapped. “If you hadnt kept putting it off, everything would be fine! They dont say theres a time for everything for nothing. Women are supposed to have children when theyre young. Medically speaking, youre practically an older mother noweven the doctor said so!”
If only they could turn back time
“Now weve got this problemall because you cared more about your career than a family. We might never have children because of this.”
Emily felt sick, fighting back tears.
“Hes right. I should have thought about children sooner. Ive let Oliver downwhat if I cant give him what he wants? Ive ruined everything.”
The next morning, they went to the doctors to discuss the results properly. The doctor scanned the reports.
“Weve identified some issues that need addressing, but theres hope. With treatment, things could still work out.”
“Doctor, are you sure Emilys the one who needs treatment?” Oliver pressed.
“Emily?” The doctor blinked. “ApologiesI should have been clearer. The issue isnt with your wife. Its with you,” he said, looking at Oliver. “Youre the one who needs treatment. But dont worrywe have excellent specialists. Youll be fine.”
Oliver was stunned. Emily almost pitied him, imagining the storm in his mind.
“Last night, he blamed me, called me too oldand now it turns out the problem was never with me at all.”
But someone had to smooth things over. Oliver couldnt speak, so Emily took his hand.
“Oliver, its okay. Well get through thisthats what familys for. I know everything will be alright.”
They left in silence, Oliver even forgetting to say goodbyebut the doctor understood. Hed seen it all before.
Oliver followed every instruction meticulouslytaking his medication, attending appointments. After completing the treatment, he came home one evening to find Emily had set up a candlelit dinner.
“Whats the occasion?” he asked with a small smile.
“There is one,” Emily said softly. “I saw the doctor today. Im pregnant.”
“Emilyare you serious?” Olivers voice wavered.
“Do I look like Im joking?”
“Youre absolutely sure?”
“Completely. Were going to be parents.”
Overjoyed, Oliver swept her into his arms and kissed her.
“This is incrediblewere going to
