Briony stepped into the modern doctor's office, the sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft buzz of fluorescent lights greeting her as she made her way to the front desk. She was still adjusting to life in the U.S. after moving from the UK, and this was her first time visiting a doctor here. Nervous energy hummed in her chest, but she tried to stay calm. She’d heard American healthcare could be overwhelming.

After a brief wait, a young nurse with a friendly smile ushered her down a hallway to a small examination room. A moment later, the door opened again, and the doctor entered—early 30s, maybe? Dark hair and an easygoing demeanor that made Briony feel a little more at ease. He glanced at her as he picked up her file, flicking through the pages with a furrowed brow.

“So, Briony,” he began, glancing up at her with a slight tilt of his head, “it says here this is your first physical. But you’re 29... that can’t be right, can it?”

Briony smiled nervously, adjusting her position on the table. “No, it’s right. I’ve never had one before. I thought I’d better get around to it now that I’m here.”

The doctor raised an eyebrow in surprise but gave a slight chuckle. “Oh wow. Okay. Well, we’re definitely going to do a thorough workup then. It’s good you’re taking care of this now.”

She nodded, feeling a bit self-conscious. “Yeah, I guess it’s time.”

“All right,” he said, setting the file aside. “Let’s get started. I’ll walk you through everything. We’ll do a full exam, check your vitals, and run some tests. It’ll be quick, nothing to worry about.”

Briony gave a small nod, trying to settle the nerves that were bubbling up again. The doctor’s youthful face and easygoing attitude helped put her at ease, even if she still felt a bit out of place.

"You seem kind of nervous, though. I’ll go real gentle, like it’s your first exam, like you’re 18 again. Nothing scary, and we’ll go at a pace that’s comfortable for you. Sound good?”

Briony felt a small rush of relief at his calm approach. “Yeah, that sounds fine. Thanks.”

"Great - I'm going to have the nurse come in and draw some bloods, then you're going to head into that restroom there," He nodded towards a door off the exam room. "And you'll pee in a cup, then we can get going!" Briony tried not to grimace.

The nurse came in quickly and had Briony draw up her sleeve, as she inserted the needle she described all of the test results Briony would get back - hormones and minerals Briony had never even heard of before. After she popped a bandaid over the injection site, she gave Briony a plastic cup and told her to leave it on the side in the restroom once she had peed into it. Briony did as she was told, when she reentered the room, the nurse had left and the doctor was waiting for her.

“Okay, Briony,” he began kindly, “we’re going to start with a preliminary exam so I can get an idea of what we’re working with here. I’ll need you to remove your clothes, except for your underwear, so I can do a thorough check and see if there's anything specific we need to focus on.”

Briony nodded, feeling a slight flutter of nerves again. She wasn’t used to this, but the doctor’s calm demeanor helped her feel more at ease. She understood that this was part of the process. “Alright,” she said, her voice steady as she began to remove her outer layers, folding them neatly beside her on the chair.

As she got settled, the doctor made sure to give her space, stepping back to allow her to feel comfortable. “Take your time, and let me know when you’re ready,” he said, his voice warm but professional.

Briony took a deep breath, trying to calm the slight anxiety creeping in, and nodded once more. “I’m ready,” she said, standing up with the last of her layers removed, now in just her matching black cotton underwear.

The doctor gestured to the center of the room. "Okay, Briony, please stand here in the middle of the room for me. I’m just going to take a quick look at your posture and how you move."

Briony stepped to the center, feeling a little exposed, but the doctor's calm demeanor helped her stay focused. He circled her slowly, his eyes taking in her stance and body alignment. His movements were deliberate, professional, never too close, just enough to make the necessary observations.

"All right, now I’d like you to raise your arms over your head," he instructed, his voice gentle but clear. "Let’s see how that feels and if there’s any tension in your shoulders."

Briony complied, lifting her arms, feeling the stretch in her shoulders as she held them up for a moment. The doctor nodded as he made a few more notes.

"Good," he said. "Now, take a few steps back and forth for me, just a slow pace. I’m watching for any irregularities in your movement."

She walked back and forth, trying to keep her movements fluid. The doctor observed her closely, taking in the way her body moved with each step. His presence was professional, allowing her to feel like she was in good hands, even as her nerves lingered.

“Everything looks normal so far,” he said, giving her a reassuring smile. "Next, I need you to bend forward and touch your toes. I’m checking for scoliosis, so take it slow.”

Briony bent at the waist, reaching for her toes. The doctor crouched down, his eyes level with her spine, watching for any irregular curvature.

“Try to stretch a little further,” he said softly. "Good job."

As she reached her limit, he stood up, taking a note on his clipboard. “Looks good, no signs of scoliosis. Let’s move on.”

The doctor gestured toward the scales in the corner. “Let’s get your weight first,” he said as Briony stepped onto the scale. The numbers flickered briefly before settling. He took note of the reading, then quickly measured her height.

The doctor picked up a metal tool with a sliding gauge and explained, “These are called calipers. They measure the thickness of the skinfolds, which helps estimate your body fat.” Briony tried not to shudder.

“Now, can you extend your arm out to the side for me?” he instructed gently.

As Briony held her arm out, he gently pinched a fold of skin at the upper part of her arm with the calipers. “I’m checking the fat in your upper arm here,” he explained, “just making sure it’s within the normal range.”

He moved quickly to her waist, repeating the process. “Now I’ll measure here around your waist,” he continued, pinching the skin and holding the calipers steady. “This helps assess the fat around your midsection.”

He then moved down to her thigh, giving another quick explanation: “Finally, I’ll check the fat around your thigh. It’s another common area we monitor to get a good picture of overall body composition.”

After a few more moments, he stepped back, looking over the results. “Everything’s within the normal range,” he said with a smile. “However, I do want to mention—you’re at the upper end of the healthy weight range. So, be mindful of your diet, especially with how easy it can be to put on weight here in the States. I wouldn’t want you to gain any more pounds.”

Briony nodded, absorbing his advice, as the doctor moved on to the next part of the exam.