Chapter 4: Anemia and Uncertainty
“How could you be anemic? Do you usually have bleeding from hemorrhoids?” I asked.
Derek blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, sometimes, I guess. But nothing serious. Maybe a little blood on the toilet paper, but not much.”
This was a problem. People don’t just end up this anemic for no reason, especially not at his age.
I scrolled through his records, searching for answers. “This doesn’t add up,” I muttered, mostly to myself. My mind raced, trying to make sense of it.
He shrugged, still confused. “I do have hemorrhoids, but it’s not a big deal—just a little bleeding here and there.”
He looked just as lost as I felt.
Derek rubbed his temples, squinting against the harsh lights. “Doc, I don’t get it. I mean, yeah, I sit at a desk all day, but this…?” His voice faded. Sometimes, you can see all the questions in their eyes—the ones they’re too scared to say out loud. I felt the weight of the moment, the quiet tension that comes before a diagnosis changes everything. Somewhere down the hall, a monitor beeped. I tried to steady my voice, but even I could hear the worry slipping through. I met Derek’s eyes, and for a heartbeat, neither of us said a word. I knew—deep down—that whatever we found next would change both our lives.