"Everything is looking good so far, Star. I am a bit worried about—"
"I'm sorry, is there a problem?"
Dr. Gray's voice startled me, and my phone slipped from my hand, hitting the floor with a soft thud.
"I'm so sorry," I said quickly, bending to pick it up. "My sister really wanted to be here for the appointment. She seems to be running late."
Dr. Gray smiled, adjusting her glasses. The overhead light reflected against the lenses, making her eyes unreadable for a moment. "Do you want me to pause for a while? I don't have any other patients after you today."
I shook my head. "Oh no, I could never ask that. You're such a busy person Doctor Gray. Please, you were saying."
She laughed softly. "I told you it's fine to call me Macy."
"Dr. Macy," I corrected automatically.
"Just Macy."
I blinked, unsure how to respond. That felt almost impossible to do.
She smiled again, tilting her head. "I can see 'I could never' written all over your face. It's okay, really. Some of my patients are strict about that, but it doesn't matter much to me. I'm still your doctor either way."
I smiled awkwardly, not sure what to say.
Dr. Gray leaned back slightly in her chair, her tone softening. "By the way, Star, how have you been feeling lately?"
"Better," I said. "My hormones still mess with me, but I've been feeling much better."
She nodded, typing something into her computer. The faint hum of the analogue clock filled the small room.
"Has your partner not wanted to see the ultrasound yet?" she asked gently. "I know it's common for men to be busy, but it can mean a lot to have support, even if it's just being here."
"My husband's just been really busy," I said quickly. "He's excited for the baby though."
He hadn't said it, but I knew he was. He had to be. "He's just… busy," I repeated softly.
Dr. Gray nodded once, her expression kind but unreadable.
I glanced at the time on my phone again. Why wasn't Lena here yet? She was the one who'd insisted on coming, and now she was late.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Macy," I said quietly. "I think my sister's going to be late. Please continue what you were saying earlier."
Before she could respond, my phone buzzed against the table. The sound made me flinch. I gave her an apologetic smile before checking the screen.
"It's Lena," I said, standing up quickly. "She's here. I'll just bring her in."
"Go ahead," Dr. Gray said with a small smile.
I went out and led her inside. Lena's heels clicked lightly against the floor as she adjusted her purse strap.
"I'm so sorry I'm late," she said, giving Dr. Macy a polite smile. "Something came up with work. I've just been really worried about Star lately, that's why I wanted to be here."
"That's fine," Dr. Macy replied. "You haven't missed much."
Lena moved closer, resting her hand lightly on my shoulder. "So, is the baby doing okay? Star worries a lot, you know. This isn't her first pregnancy. The last one—she'd already passed the stage where things are usually uncertain. I really didn't think she'd lose that one."
She sighed dramatically. "It must have been terrible, having all that hope and expectation just for it to end like that. She's really anxious. Maybe you can tell her what to do differently this time so she doesn't mess—"
My heart began to pound. The air in the room felt thinner, my hands trembling where they rested on my lap. I pressed my palms together to stop the shaking, but the memory came anyway—the hospital bed, the quiet hallway, the sound of nothing.
"Excuse me, Miss," Dr. Macy interrupted gently.
"Lena," she corrected quickly. "Please, call me Lena."
"Miss Lena," Dr. Macy continued, her tone polite but firm. "I don't think that kind of talk is appropriate right now. When it comes to miscarriages, it can happen to anyone. That's why we run tests regularly, to detect any problems early and prevent complications. But I don't think that's something Star needs to hear at the moment. Don't you think it would help more to stay positive?"
I felt Lena stiffen beside me. "Of course," she said quickly. "I love Star so much. She's my baby sister, did you know that? I just want the best for her."
"I see," Dr. Macy said softly, then turned to me with a kind smile. "Star, the only thing I'm worried about is your stress levels. Try not to overwork yourself these next few months. Keep your mindset positive, and avoid situations that could cause unnecessary stress. Stress isn't good for the baby."
"I'll make sure of that," Lena cut in before I could answer. "By the way, Doctor, is there something you can give her for her moods? Just recently she yelled at a child and even put her hands on her over something small."
Heat rushed to my cheeks. I wished Lena wouldn't talk about me like that, especially in front of other people. But she always did. She said sharing my "funny little moments" made us closer, that real family told stories about each other.
"Star can be a bit—"
"It's alright, Miss Lena," Dr. Macy said calmly. "Pregnancy hormones are normal and not something to be medicated for. And Star doesn't seem like someone who would get upset over something small without reason."
Lena blinked, clearly caught off guard.
"To be honest," Dr. Macy continued, "I usually prefer to see my patients one on one unless there's a medical reason to include someone else. Even then, it's typically their significant other. Miss Lena, could you please wait outside for a few minutes? I have something to discuss privately with Star."
Lena's expression hardened. "You can say whatever you need to say to Star in front of me."
Her voice had that defensive edge that always made my stomach tighten. I reached for her hand, giving it a small squeeze to calm her before she could say more.
"No, I don't have to," Dr. Macy replied calmly. I could almost feel the heat rise off Lena; her jaw tensed, her mouth twitching in irritation.
I turned to her, trying to sound casual. "Just give me a minute. I wanted to talk to Dr. Macy about my constipation. You don't want to hear about that anyway."
It was embarrassing to use something like that to diffuse the tension, but it worked.
"You're right," Lena said, forcing a smile. She stood up, slid her glasses back on, and picked up her bag. "I'll be waiting outside."
The door shut behind her, leaving the room suddenly quiet.
"I'm sorry about that," I said quickly. "Lena can be a bit… protective."
"Abrasive," Dr. Macy said dryly. "Pushy. Controlling." She sighed and glanced at me over her glasses. "I don't think protective is the word you're looking for, Star."
I tried to defend her. "She's just like that because of how she grew up. You have to be a little prickly to survive harsh conditions."
Dr. Macy nodded slowly. "Maybe. But tell me something—are you two really sisters? You're not related, right?"
"Why? Because we don't look alike?"
I could feel my heart begin to pound. There was a reason I usually introduced Lena as my best friend instead of my sister. Whenever I said the word sister, people started comparing us, measuring me against her, branding me as the plain one. I hated it.
Dr. Macy's voice pulled me back. "That's not what I meant," she said softly. "Yes, you don't look alike, but that's not the point. I meant… are you sure she's your sister? Because from where I'm sitting, it doesn't seem like that girl even likes you."
"What?" The word came out sharper than I intended. "What do you mean by that? Are you even supposed to talk to patients like that?"
"You're right," she said, her tone gentle again. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. It's just—life has taught me to say what I think. I used to be the kind of person who held everything in, always afraid to step on anyone's toes. I thought silence was safer."
She paused, her gaze softening. "I suppose now my problem is knowing when to hold my tongue. But it didn't even take a minute for her to walk in before you shrank beside her."
"I don't appreciate that, Doctor Macy," I said, my voice shaking. "It feels like you're always analysing my life, like yours is so much better than mine. I know my life isn't perfect, but it's mine. Sure, Lena isn't my blood relative, but she's still my family, and I don't want anyone talking about my family like that. Please just be my doctor. I already have a friend, and that's Lena."
"You're right. I'm sorry, Star. I overstepped," she said quietly.
"Can I leave now?"
"Yes. You can take the medication I prescribed, and please try not to stress over anything. Stress can really affect your baby's health."
"Thank you, Doctor Macy." I forced a small smile and walked out to the waiting area where Lena was leaning against the wall.
"What's up with that bitch in there?" she hissed the moment she saw me. "So rude. I bet she thinks she's better than everyone just because she's young and a doctor already. God, Star, don't we hate those types the most?"
She turned to me for agreement. I managed a small nod. "Yeah."
"Next time you're pregnant, you're definitely not using this hospital," Lena said. "Did you see her thick glasses? She's probably not getting any men." She burst out laughing, loud and careless.
"Come on, let's go. I'll buy you a milkshake."
"Thanks, Lena."
"You should be grateful you have me," she said, linking her arm through mine. "That doctor's ring finger was empty. She's probably lonely as hell. What a fucking loser."
The guilt hit me hard as we walked. I hated myself for letting her talk about Dr. Macy like that and saying nothing.
Maybe it was because Dr. Macy's apology had sounded genuine.
I couldn't even remember the last time someone had apologized to me like that—certainly not Lena.