Losing My Shadow

William Steele

I gave my name in at the reception desk of the clinic and was asked to take a seat in the waiting area along the corner. There were lots of women there that afternoon and, like any waiting room, there was little chat and much reading of months old magazines to try and contain worry.

Sitting there, amongst the others, I found myself thinking back to what had brought me here. A few weeks earlier, in a moment of passion, my partner had found a lump on my chest. It was to the inside of the right nipple. I was immediately worried. It was the weekend before the May Day holiday and I couldn't see my doctor until the Tuesday. I telephoned from work for an emergency appointment on the Tuesday morning and went to see him later that day. ... (continues)