A soft knock made her jump.
Rachel looked at the tiny succulent on the table. Its green leaves were uncurling toward the fluorescent light. Something alive.
After a thorough conversation about Rachel’s history, cycles, and any concerns (there was a new, intermittent dull ache on her lower left side), Dr. Vance explained the exam step by step.
Dr. Vance leaned forward, peering through the scope. “Cervix looks pink and healthy. No lesions. I’m going to take a Pap smear now. A little pinch and a scratch.”
The voice was warm, measured. Rachel cleared her throat. “Yes.”
Rachel took a deep breath and slid down, placing her feet into the cold, padded rests. The paper crinkled again. She felt acutely exposed, vulnerable. But Dr. Vance didn’t immediately dive in. She placed a warm blanket over Rachel’s lower belly and thighs, leaving only the necessary area exposed.
Rachel cried—not from fear, but from relief. She scheduled the surgery for the following month. And she never missed another annual exam again.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Now.”
“For you,” Dr. Vance said, placing the tiny plant on the side table. “I find that having something alive and green in here helps. Makes the room feel less like a spaceship.”