Chapter 7 — After Menopause, I Found Out I Was Pregnant

I raised my head and saw worry in her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

I shook my head, then nodded again.

“Doctor, I'm fine.”

My voice was so calm that even I was surprised.

“Tell me what I should do next.”

Doctor Luu looked at me, his eyes filled with approval.

“You need to go to the hospital right away.”

“We will conduct a comprehensive examination for her, including CT and MRI to determine whether the tumor has metastasized distantly.”

“Then the uterine curettage surgery will be arranged as soon as possible.”

"After surgery, we will base on the pathology results and body indicators to develop the next chemotherapy regimen."

I've only seen this word on TV. Emaciated... Those painful images appeared before my eyes one after another. I took a deep breath.

“Doctor… can this disease be cured?”

I ask the most important question. Doctor Luu was silent for a few seconds.

“Tastroblastoma is a type of tumor that is extremely sensitive to chemotherapy.”

"If detected early and without widespread metastasis, the cure rate is still very high."

“So you must have faith.”

Faith? Can I still have that? My family. My marriage. My life. In just two short days it became a joke. Even my body betrayed me.

“Do I need to notify family members to come and complete hospital admission procedures?”

Doctor Luu asked. In my mind, Chu Chi Minh's fierce face immediately appeared. I slowly shook my head.

“No need.”

“I can do it myself.”

“Doctor, thank you.”

I stood up and bowed deeply to Dr. Luu. Thank her for not being like Dr. Vuong, considering me a weak woman who needs to be protected by her husband. Thank you for telling me that cruel truth directly. Leaving the clinic, I took out my phone. The person I called is not Chu Chi Minh. It's Ly Mai. The phone only rang once before it was picked up.

"Tran Tranh! How's it going? Are there any results yet?"

Ly Mai's voice was full of worry. I walked to the end of the hospital hallway, stood next to the window and looked at the crowded traffic below.

“I'm not pregnant.”

I said softly.

"Really? That's so good!"

Ly Mai breathed a sigh of relief.

"I told you! It must have been a mistake!"

“This time it's good, let's see how I handle that bastard Chu Chi Minh!”

“You take the results back and throw them right in his face!”

Hearing her get angry on my behalf, my tears finally fell. My voice choked.

“What is inside me… is not a child.”

“It's cancer.”

The other end of the line immediately went silent. Even the sound of breathing disappeared. I know… she's scared. It took nearly half a minute before Ly Mai's trembling voice rang out.

“Tr… Tranh Tranh… don't scare me…”

“What did you just say?”

"Is the doctor wrong? How could it be... how could it be that disease?"

I leaned my back against the cold wall, letting my tears flow.

“It's not wrong, Mai.”

“It's trophoblastic cancer.”

“Now I have to go through hospital procedures.”

“You bastard!”

Ly Mai's heart-wrenching scream rang out on the phone. I know she didn't scold me.

"Where is Chu Chi Minh? Where is that dead turtle?"

"Does he know? Is he with you?"

“I didn't tell him.”

“And I don't want to talk either.”

“Based on what, I don't say Yes!”

Ly Mai was both angry and urgent.

“Tan Tranh, are you stupid?”

“If you become like this, do you still plan to carry it yourself?”

“He is your husband! He has a duty to take care of you! That is his responsibility!”

Responsibility? I laughed bitterly. A man who can't even give me basic trust... What other responsibilities can I expect him to take? I'm afraid that at that moment, the look in his eyes when he looked at me wasn't pain... But relief. Relieved that I had cancer, he no longer needed to worry about whether I had an affair or not. Relieved that I was about to die, he could be free from the "burden" that was me.

“Mai, I don't want to see him.”

My voice was extremely determined.

“Now I just want to heal in peace.”

The other end of the line was silent. I can imagine Ly Mai's sad and angry appearance right now. A long time later, she spoke up.

“Which hospital are you in? Which department? I'll be there soon!”

“Don't worry about anything, just leave it to me.”

That strong voice immediately soothed my panicked heart. I told her the hospital address. After hanging up the phone, I wiped my tears and went to check in at the hospital. Get hospital admission papers. Prepare tests before treatment.