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I don't own any rights to "Doc Martin," and I'm not making any money off it.
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Chapter 8
April 2016, Truro Hospital, Truro, Cornwall
Valerie woke up dazed. For some reason she couldn't see straight-everything was blurred. Her head throbbed violently. And, some think of it, the rest of her body didn't feel much better. It all seemed kind of other-worldly.
In the distance she could hear muffled voices.
"I'm her GP, a deep London accent said.
"Yes, I know Dr. Ellingham," a high-pitched male voice said, "but you have a reputation for over-"
"She's my patient, now let me in you...!"
Suddenly there was the sound of heels on linoleum.
"What is this?" a stern feminine voice said.
Muffled voices.
"Martin Ellingham is not just one of the finest GPs in the UK but also one of the brightest minds in the medical community. You should honored that he is here."
"But-"
"Let him through. If I ever hear that you block Doctor Ellingham from visiting a patient in this hospital, I'll have your job, is that clear!?"
"Yes, Doc-"
"Tell me the patient's condition please," the Londoner said. Valerie felt she could almost place the voice.
"Lacerations to the face and scalp. Severe concussion."
There was a pause, then the voices became inaudibly muffled again.
A long silence.
"Right. You've made your report, now go bugger someone else!" the woman commanded.
There was silence for a moment.
Finally the London man spoke.
"Thank you."
"You shouldn't have to deal with that, and I owe you one."
Heels on linoleum.
"By the way, tell Louisa that if she can be bothered to leave 'the Village,' I know a childhood psychologist with an excellent reputation who has just set up practice in Camelford."
"Yes. Thank you. I'll do that."
Valerie slowly felt herself fade back into the darkness.
Slowly, Valerie woke up. Surprisingly, this time, the pain was almost completely gone, and her vision was much better. Her brain, admittedly, felt a bit fuzzy.
She turned her head slowly to the right.
A man with hair so light she wasn't sure if was grey or blond, with huge ears and a round face sat there, all decked out in suit and tie.
"Mrs. Steel," he said, in what Valerie felt was a comically serious voice. "Valerie."
"Yes?"
"This is Doctor Martin Ellingham."
Of course, Doc Martin. Louise's husband. Or was it Louisa?
"Doc, where am?"
"You're at Truro Hospital. You've had a fall."
"A bad fall?" That would explain why she was in the hospital.
"Yes," Martin said, softly.
The look on his face was sad. Buzzed though she was, it almost made her want to cry.
'You look sad Doc. What's wrong?"
Martin shook his head.
"Not now."
"Doc...what's...?"
Suddenly it struck her, like a lightning bolt through a stormy black sky.
"Martin," she said hoarsely. Her speech was no longer slurred and her thoughts no longer fuzzy.
"How is my baby? Is he okay?"
Martin's forehead creased sharply.
By faith even Sarah...*
"Valerie," he said slowly, "you've suffered a complication related to your fall..."
She considered Him faithful who had made the promise.*
"Are...are we going to die?"
For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you...**
"There's no longer any major health risk to you, but..."
Who cared about her? What about her precious child? What about the amazing gift they had waited and begged God for for so long, and had felt so unworthy and so blessed to receive? What about that little miracle (for that, in essence, was what he was) that had been growing inside her these past 6 months?
"Mar'in," she said, her words choking in her mouth. "Is my child alright? Will he be okay?"
Martin's eyes moistened. He'd been a doctor, a surgeon even, for years. This kind of thing was nothing new to him, nothing he hadn't seen before.
Or was it?
Because this time, this time it was too much.
It was too close.
The mechanism that shut down his emotions and served as the barrier between him and living hell simply wasn't working.
Valerie's heart beat fast.
For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb.***
"Mrs. Steel," Martin annunciated, his voice trembling and his face pale. "You've had a complete miscarriage. I'm...I'm afraid your...son...didn't make it."
*Excerpts from Hebrews 11:11, mentioned in Chapter 7
**Jeremiah 29:11
***Psalm 139:13
Thanks again for reading and please let me know what you think. To be continued...
