Emily’s doctor tells her some bad news about her health. Tyler, Emily’s husband, needs to know about her change in life. However, his response is wrong.
The first thing I heard was the doctor’s quiet, professional voice telling me news that would change my life.
Dr. Duncan made a face and said, “Emily, I need you to come in.”
I went to see him today.
“Am I able to tell Emily the truth?” Does Dr. Duncan ask?
Even though my hands were shaking, I said, “Of course.”
I was very scared. I knew something was wrong after being sick for weeks. Now was the time to act. Dr. Duncan would tell me what we found after all of our tests.
I told him, “Give me straight, Doc.” “I’d rather know now than act like everything is okay.”
Dear Emily, you have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. A rare neurological disease makes it hard to move your muscles. It may get harder to walk over time, and you may need help getting around.
What is it? I asked for it. “Please explain. Help me understand. “Please…”
Dr. Duncan smiled in a sad way.
He told her, “Yes, Emily.” There is a family history of the sickness that damages nerves. This kind of injury usually affects the arms and legs, so it’s easy to lose movement.
I sat there frozen, barely able to understand what was being said. I was 29 years old. I thought I had a lot of time. How could I have kids now? When I might have to use a wheelchair?
I didn’t understand it. It hurt me more that I had to tell Tyler, my husband.
What would he do? What if he couldn’t handle it?
Following my visit to the doctor, I took a stroll through the park. I liked the way the wind felt on my face. I wanted to walk through the grass and kick leaves. I wanted to do small things that could be taken away in a few months or years.
I told him that night after getting up the nerve to do it. I didn’t cook his favorite food until after dinner, when he was already calm. There was a football game on TV in the background while I told him how I felt.
Please turn that off for a moment, Tyler. I tried to sound strong while still whispering. “Darling, I need to talk to you about something very important.”
He held his beer can and the remote, even though he was rolling his eyes.
He asked, “What’s so important, Em?”
Deeply breathed in.
We did tests on me when I saw the doctor last week. I didn’t feel good, but I couldn’t explain why. I went back to see Dr. Duncan today, and we found something.
He asked, “What?” What did you find? What’s wrong?
I took a deep breath and got ready. “It’s a neurological condition, and he said it might make it harder for me to walk in the future.”
“I might not be able to walk in the end.”
His face went cold, and I thought I saw fear in his eyes. But all of a sudden, a hint of something new showed up.
Sickness.
“Are you kidding me?” He laughed and put his can on the couch table. Do you want to get my attention, Emily?
I just said “No.”
We were both quiet.
“So… You’re just… Will I have to take care of you because you’re sick? Help you get in a wheelchair?
His words cut me deep. I couldn’t believe what I heard.
“Tyler, I don’t think it will be that bad.” Talk to the doctor to find out more. You can see how long it will be before getting sick. There may be cures out there, I think.
He put up his hand.
He told her to stop, Emily. I didn’t promise to take care of anyone. I married someone who is full of energy. A woman who danced in bars and clubs until they closed. “The person I married wouldn’t stay home all day.”
“You’re going to make me sick?” As I tried to speak, I asked.
My voice was empty and strange.
He growled, “Don’t turn this around on me.” “I get it. Amy, I need something. I need a real partner. I’m not going to stay to watch over you.
He went upstairs and didn’t come down again all night. I cried myself to sleep in the guest room instead.
Was that my husband? Tyler has never let me down before, but this? Regrettably, this was not acceptable.
He put his bags away and left a note on the kitchen counter the next morning.
Need some time to think.
The end. There was no goodbye or sorry. Nothing.
He hadn’t talked to me in days. It was like he just erased me from his life.
I tried to think about something else, but the house made me think of our life together. I started to pack Tyler’s things.
“Then where is he now?” When she came to visit, my sister Audrey said.
I opened her chocolate box and said, “I have no idea.” When I texted his brother to see if he was there, Kevin said he hadn’t seen or heard from him.
She asked Emily, “Tell me you’re not trying to work with him.” “That’s not going to happen.”
I said, “I’m not.” “Just to see him finish.” He should know how sorry I am and how much it hurts. I want him to hear it.
Audrey said yes.
I will always have you. She smiled and said, “Our family has you.”
At night, I was in bed and eating the rest of the chocolate box while looking at my phone. There was nothing that could have prepared me for what I saw.
I felt sick when I saw a public post. Tyler was happy on the beach when a blonde woman leaned toward him and held drinks in a friend’s picture.
He looked happy. Not worried. He seemed to remember me from a long time ago.
That night, I lay in bed and looked at the ceiling.
He was angry, sad, and sick, and these emotions were too much for him to handle. But all of a sudden, I felt different.
I put down my tears. I stopped feeling awful. I was sick of being picked on. I didn’t know what was coming, but I was going to do it my way.
Then something strange happened.
A week after Tyler left, my doctor called, upset and sorry.
Hi Emily I’m sorry. We made a big mistake!” What Dr. Duncan said.
“What?” What do you mean? I asked for it.
“The test results for you were mixed up with those for someone else.” Well-being. Pay attention to your calcium amounts only.
“What?” I said again.
You’re okay. You’re more than fine! I know that the last two weeks were very hard. I’ll give you free treatment until you feel better. I have no idea what’s going on in your mind. You can ask me to handle everything if you want me to.
I couldn’t believe what I heard.
I felt relieved at first, but it quickly faded away.
Building anger.
Tyler didn’t give me anything when he left. All of the pain and suffering wasn’t needed. So, what about him?
As soon as the call ended, I made an appointment with Dr. Duncan to talk about calcium. I had an odd sense of being free and clear. There was more at stake than just my health.
I couldn’t go back after my husband told me who he was. I saw him sitting on the beach, looking out at the water and not paying attention to me.
After two weeks, life threw me another shock.
When my grandmother died, she left Aubrey and me everything. A big gift showed up quickly in my bank account.
My grandma always made sure that Audrey and I could live our lives the way we wanted to. With this money, I could finally run away from my life. Not just good for you. Me on my own. I had the money and tools to live my own life.
Without Tyler.
Like always, Tyler crawled back.
A late knock on my door. When I opened it, Tyler was messy and holding a grocery store flower that was only half-wilted. He tried to smile like he was sorry, thinking that would make me feel better.
I made a face.
He started with “Em.” “May I talk?”
“Just what could you say to me?” I asked for it.
He cleared his throat.
Look, I got scared. I believed… It hurt to think that you would be sick for a long time. But I love you.
“Do you love me?” Or do you love hearing about the money my mom will get?
His face lost its color.
Beth, I don’t care about money. “I missed you.”
I told her, “Go back to the blonde on the beach.”
I stood back and let him stumble over his words. I rolled my eyes again when he stopped.
Do I remember what you said the night you left? Having to have a lively wife? Yes and no. “That’s not me.”
I told him to leave by opening the door.
I’ll send the divorce papers. Bring them to your office.
I worked on my dream projects for the next six months. I painted, went on trips, and made new friends. Without Tyler and his stuff, life would be better.
How would you have handled it?
