“What is an erosion?” asked Kristin. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
“It’s just an area devoid of the usual epithelial cells,” said Dr. Harper. “Do you have any other questions?”
Dr. Harper made it apparent he was in a hurry to end the consultation. Kristin hesitated.
“Well, I’ve got more patients,” said Dr. Harper quickly. “If you need more information on birth control, ask Ms. Blackman. She’s very good on counseling. Also, you might bleed a little after the exam, but don’t worry about it. See you again in a couple of months.” With a final smile, and a pat on the top of Kristin’s head, Dr. Harper left.
A moment later the door opened and Ms. Blackman looked in. She seemed surprised that Dr. Harper had left. “That was fast,” said Ms. Blackman, picking up the chart. “Come on in the lab and we’ll finish you up and get you on your way.”
Kristin followed Ms. Blackman into another room with two examining tables as well as long counter tops with all sorts of medical paraphernalia, including a microscope. On the far wall was a glass-fronted instrument cabinet filled with an assortment of evil-appearing devices. Next to it hung an eye chart. Kristin noticed it because it was one of those charts composed only of the letter E.
“Do you wear glasses?” asked Ms. Blackman.
“No,” said Kristin.
“Fine,” said Ms. Blackman. “Now lie down and we’ll draw your blood work.”
Kristin did what she was told. “I get a little weak when blood is drawn.”
“That’s very common,” said Ms. Blackman. “That’s why we ask you to lie down.”
Kristin averted her eyes so she didn’t have to see the needle. Ms. Blackman was very fast and afterward she took Kristin’s blood pressure and pulse. Then she darkened the room for a vision exam.
Kristin tried to get Ms. Blackman to discuss birth control, but it wasn’t until she’d finished her routine that she responded to Kristin’s questions. And then she just referred Kristin back to the Family Planning Center at the university, saying that she would have no problems now that she’d had her gynecological exam. Concerning the erosion, Ms. Blackman made a little sketch to be sure everything was clear. Then she took Kristin’s phone number and told her that she’d be informed if there were any irregularities with her test results.
With great relief Kristin hurried from the clinic. At last it was over. After all the tension she’d experienced, she decided she’d skip her afternoon class. Reaching the center of the GYN clinic, Kristin felt a little disoriented, forgetting which way she’d come. Turning on her heels, she looked for a sign for the elevators. She spied it on the wall of the nearest corridor. But when the image of the word fell on her retina, something strange happened in Kristin’s brain. She felt a peculiar sensation and a slight dizziness, followed by an obnoxious odor. Although she couldn’t place the smell, Kristin felt it was strangely familiar.
With a sense of foreboding Kristin tried to ignore the symptoms and pushed her way down the crowded corridor. She had to get out of the hospital. But the dizziness increased and the corridor began to spin. Grabbing an edge of a doorway for support, Kristin closed her eyes. The spinning sensation stopped. At first she was afraid to open her eyes fearing the symptoms would return, and when she did so, she did it gradually. Thankfully the dizziness didn’t recur, and in a few moments she was able to let go of the doorjamb.
Before Kristin could take a step, a hand grabbed her upper arm and she recoiled in fright. She was relieved when she saw that it was Dr. Harper.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” said Kristin quickly, embarrassed to admit her symptoms.
“Are you sure?”
Kristin nodded and for emphasis, pulled her arm from Harper’s grip.
“Sorry to bother you then,” said Dr. Harper, who excused himself and walked away down the hall.
Kristin watched him merge with the crowd. She took a breath and started for the elevators, her legs rubbery.
6
Martin left the angiography room as soon as he was convinced the resident had everything under control and the catheter was out of the patient’s artery. He walked briskly down the corridor. Approaching his office he hoped Helen had gone to lunch, but as he rounded the last corner, she saw him and bounded up like a cat with her omnipresent handful of urgent messages. It wasn’t that Philips did not really want to see her, it was just that he knew she had all sorts of bad news.