Title: Vera's Fears
Fandom: Call The Midwife
Rating: G
Length: 200 words
Summary: Vera Sands life has come crashing down around her.
Spoilers for Series 10 Episode 5

One week ago, Vera Sands had looked at her daughter, Elaine, and wondered, not for the first time, whether there was perhaps something wrong with her.  She had dismissed the thought, telling herself that some children were simply slower than others.  At least now she was expecting her second child, it meant she wasn’t worn out running round after her, and when she went for her ante-natal appointment Elaine would wait quietly while she was seen by the midwife.

So she had been horrified when the midwife had brought the doctor in to speak to her, and he had said he had serious concerns about Elaine, but he couldn’t say, as yet, what was wrong with her.

And then her whole world had come crashing down.  Her beautiful daughter had PKU, and her brain was affected.  Neither drugs, nor an operation would cure it, and their only hope was a really strict diet.  And then Elaine had a fit and had to go to hospital.

What had she done?  How could she bring another child into the world, knowing how she had failed the first one?  She knew that George didn’t blame her, but nevertheless it was her fault entirely.