Chapter 19: The Post

Name

“Go ahead and change into the gown. Wear the opening in the front. The doctor will be in shortly,” the nurse states as she exits the exam room.

“Couldn’t they make these gowns more feminine, more glamorous?” I mumble, removing all my clothes. “It’s bad enough we must have this appointment annually. The least they could do is let us feel pretty while we do it.”

With the thin hospital gown over my shoulders, I hold the front closed as I climb onto the exam table. The white paper crinkles annoyingly. The cold, sterile environment causes my skin to crawl.

The doctor whips in with her nurse, and they quickly begin the breast and pelvic exams. I lie on the table, staring up at the fluorescent lights, praying for this to all be over quickly. You’d think after a hysterectomy, pelvic exams would no longer be necessary. I don’t question the logic, though; I endure it as every woman does.

With no concerns, my exam ends, and I’m briskly walking toward the door and exiting the lobby. My jaw ti