Chapter 12 - The Lost Archive
|
On the eighth day of my recovery, my world had narrowed to pain medication schedules, careful sips of water, and painful dressing changes. But outside my room, the investigation was expanding rapidly.
Priya Nair returned, clutching a sealed manila envelope. She looked triumphant, but deeply unsettled.
"There has been a massive development," Priya announced, shutting the door behind her. Evelyn muted the television and stood up.
"What kind of development?" Evelyn asked.
"We located an original intake form from your very first pregnancy," Priya said, pulling a piece of paper from the envelope. "It was stored in a physical archive belonging to a women’s health center that went bankrupt and merged with another practice. Because it was a paper file in a dusty basement, it was never digitized into the system your husband provided."
She handed the paper to me. At the top was my name, my old address, and a date from nearly seven years ago. The handwriting was mine.
Priya pointed a manicured finger to the bottom of the page. "Look at the emergency contact."
It didn't say Luke. It said Evelyn Hart.
A memory pierced through the brain fog. Rain on the pavement. A waiting room with green chairs. I had gone to the clinic alone to confirm the pregnancy before telling Luke. I had been terrified but thrilled.
"What does the doctor’s note say?" Evelyn asked, leaning over my shoulder.
"It says," Priya read from the back of the page, "Patient is perfectly healthy. Routine prenatal care recommended. No fertility concerns. No anatomical abnormalities."
I looked at Dr. Shah, who had quietly entered the room behind Priya. "So I was completely fine."
May you like
"Yes," Dr. Shah said grimly. "But look at the handwritten sticky note attached to the file."
Priya flipped the page. A frantic, scribbled note read: Patient called to cancel all follow-up appointments. Husband stated she has transferred care. Patient sounded highly distressed during confirmation call. Please attempt direct contact. - Dr. Helen Mercer.
