Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Hospital Doors
Sarah followed Dr. Arnold down the corridor.
The fluorescent lights overhead hummed softly. Somewhere behind a closed door, a monitor beeped at regular intervals.
She had walked through hospitals before.
She had visited friends, accompanied relatives, and waited outside examination rooms.
But this time was different.
This time, every step brought her closer to a truth she wasn't prepared to hear.
“Doctor,” Sarah said, struggling to keep up, “please don't make me guess. Is Ben sick?””
Arnold slowed down.
“I can't answer everything right now.””
“Why not?””
“Because some things should come from him.””
Sarah stopped walking.
“From him? I've been calling him every day. I've sent him messages.
I've asked him how he's doing. He keeps telling me he's fine.””
Arnold turned around.
“And you believed him?””
Sarah stared at him.
“Of course I did. He's my husband.””
For a moment, Arnold said nothing.
Then he continued walking.
Behind them, the nurse remained near reception.
Her name was Emily.
She watched Sarah disappear around the corner, still holding the cake bag.
A few minutes earlier, Emily had been absolutely certain she knew what kind of woman Sarah was.
Now, she wasn't so sure.
She looked down at her clipboard, but the words on the page seemed blurred.
Another nurse approached.
“Emily, what happened?””
Emily shook her head.
“Nothing.””
“You look upset.””
Emily glanced toward the corridor.
“I think I may have made a terrible mistake.””
Meanwhile, Sarah reached a small consultation room.
Arnold opened the door and gestured for her to enter.
There was a chair beside the desk, a glass of water, and a large window overlooking the hospital parking area.
Sarah sat down but kept the cake bag on her lap.
“Where is Ben?””
“He's being looked after.””
“Can I see him?””
“In a moment.””
Sarah looked directly at him.
“Doctor, I'm going to ask you one more time. Is my husband seriously ill?””
Arnold folded his hands.
“I understand why you're frightened.””
“Then please stop speaking to me like I'm a child.””
Her voice cracked.
“I'm his wife. I deserve to know what's happening.””
Arnold looked at her for a long moment.
“You're right.””
Sarah leaned forward.
“Then tell me.””
He opened a folder on the desk, glanced at its contents, and closed it again.
“I've known Ben for quite some time. He's not someone who easily asks for help.””
Sarah let out a nervous breath.
“That sounds like him.””
“He tends to carry things alone.””
“That's true, too.””
Arnold looked toward the window.
“Has he seemed different recently?””
Sarah nodded immediately.
“He stopped eating dinner with me. He sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and sits in the living room. When I ask him what's wrong, he says he's thinking about work.””
“Anything else?””
“He stopped talking about our plans.””
“What plans?””
Sarah gave a faint, sad smile.
“We were supposed to take a trip together. Nothing special. Just a few days somewhere quiet. Ben used to talk about it all the time.””
She looked down at the cake.
“Last week, I asked him when we could finally go. He said we would discuss it later.””
Arnold listened carefully.
“Did he ever ask you to stay away from the hospital?””
Sarah nodded.
“He said there was no reason for me to come here. He told me he had everything under control.””
“And you didn't question him?””
“I did.””
Sarah's voice became quieter.
“Several times.””
She remembered one particular evening.
Ben had been sitting at their kitchen table, staring at his phone.
She had placed a warm plate of food in front of him.
“Ben, are you sure everything is okay?””
“I'm fine, Sarah.””
“You don't look fine.””
“I'm just tired.””
“Then let me help you.””
He had looked up and given her a tired smile.
“There's nothing you need to worry about.””
Sarah had wanted to reach across the table and take his hand.
Instead, Ben had stood up, kissed her forehead, and gone into the bedroom.
Now, sitting in Arnold's office, Sarah realized how many questions she had allowed herself to postpone.
She looked at the doctor.
“Did he tell you not to contact me?””
Arnold hesitated.
“He made certain requests.””
Sarah's face changed.
“What requests?””
“I don't think I'm the right person to explain his reasons.””
“Then who is?””
“Ben.””
Sarah stood up.
“Take me to him.””
Arnold also rose.
“Sarah, I need you to remain calm.””
“How can I remain calm when everyone seems to know something about my husband except me?””
Her eyes filled again.
“I brought him cake because I thought he needed something nice. I thought maybe we could sit together for ten minutes. I thought he would smile when he saw me.””
She looked at the paper bag.
“Instead, your colleague slapped me and accused me of abandoning him.””
Arnold's expression tightened.
“What happened at reception was unacceptable.””
“Why did she think I had abandoned him?””
He didn't answer.
Sarah wiped her cheek.
“Did Ben tell people I didn't care about him?””
“No,” Arnold replied carefully.
“Then why?””
Arnold walked toward the door.
“Come with me.””
They entered a quieter section of the hospital.
At the end of the corridor stood a closed door.
Sarah recognized the name on the small information board beside it.
Ben.
Her breath caught.
“Is he inside?””
Arnold nodded.
Sarah reached for the handle, but the doctor gently stopped her.
“One moment.””
She turned to him.
“What now?””
“Before you enter, I want you to understand that you may hear things you weren't expecting.””
Sarah stared at him.
“Doctor, I've spent years building a life with this man. Whatever it is, I want to hear it.””
Arnold slowly released the door handle.
“Then there's something else you should know.””
Sarah waited.
He lowered his voice.
“Ben didn't just ask us to keep you away from his situation.””
Sarah's stomach tightened.
“What else did he ask?””
Arnold looked directly into her eyes.
“He specifically asked that nobody tell you how long this has been going on.””
Sarah felt the blood drain from her face.
How long?
Days?
Weeks?
Months?
She couldn't even form the next question.
Then a voice came from inside the room.
“Sarah?””
Her entire body went still.
It was Ben.
She reached for the handle again.
May you like
But before she could open the door, Arnold quietly added:
“There's a reason he may not be ready to explain everything.””
