“A couple things left to check Evan, I promise I won’t keep you much longer. Have you had a prostate exam before?”

“I don’t think so, not that I can remember.” Evan answered. He didn’t recognise the term, but also didn’t listen much in health class.

The doctor smiled, wondering if they were typically forgettable. “It is a glad near your bladder. We check it by inserting a finger into your rectum. Would it be ok for me to check that today?”

“I mean.. I don’t think smoke got up there… I’m sure it’s fine.” Evan shifted his weight from one foot to the other and didn’t make eye contact, visibly nervous at the proposal.

“I recognise that this is an uncomfortable exam, but it is a necessary part of a physical, especially since yours has never been examined before. It’s also very quick, less than a minute usually.”

Evan couldn’t really say no, not if he wanted to go back to work. “Yes doctor” his eyes stayed fixed on the floor.

“Ok Evan,” a firm hand on his lower back started to guide him. “Face the table with your feet shoulder width apart… Good. Now lean over the table on your elbows… That’s perfect. Let your chest rest on the table, yes just like that.”

The snap of new gloves and some rustling made Evan look back at the doctor, who was spreading a clear jelly over multiple fingers. He looked at the window in front of him, now appreciating the blinds being closed. Closing his eyes, he didn’t know if it was better or worse to not see what was coming.

The doctor placed a hand on Evans lower back, saying “Great job Evan, everything looks good from the outside. You’ll feel my finger now…” A lubed index finger rested on his anus. Not pushing, just waiting. Evan jolted from the cold, but the table and the doctors hand on his back didn’t let him move much.

“Take a deep breath in Evan.. Good… Now out…” As he exhaled, the doctor pushed the tip of one index finger inside, just a centimetre or two. Having never has anything inside his butt before, Evan’s anus was clenching. “Good, good, Evan take another deep breath and try to relax your muscles.”

Evan started breathing again, not realising he was holding his breath until the doctor instructed him to breathe. On the exhale again the finger probed much deeper, pressing and turning.

“Ok Evan, your prostate and rectum look healthy so I’ll remove my finger.”

Even when the finger was removed, Evan’s anus was twitching from the violation. “Evan stay there while I wipe the excess lubricant off.” Great, prolonging this experience was not what Evan wanted. A tissue was rubbed between his cheeks, and the doctor snapped off her gloves. “You can sit back on the table now Evan.”

Glad to have something to cover his butt, Evan plopped back down onto the wrinkled white paper. “Evan next is a urine test, I have a sample cup here for you. Do you think you could fill it to at least this line? If you don’t need to urinate now, I can check back with you later.”

Evan didn’t want to prolong this experience, so affirmed he could fill the cup. Thankfully there was a bathroom adjoining the office, meaning nobody would see him carrying his pee around the firehouse. That would definitely earn him a nickname.

Once he had peed, he handed the jar back to the doctor, unsure what to say. Thank you? Here you go? It’s not exactly a great gift to give someone.

“That’s great Evan. You can get dressed while I check this.” The doctor dropped some paper into the liquid, which started changing colour, but Evan was more focused on getting clothes before she found something else to examine.

“Before you go, I need to take a blood sample. I’ll bring this to our lab today, and you’ll get the results in 2-3 days. You’ll still be able to work but the department is being through.”

Needles were a big reason Evan had avoided doctors ever since he was old enough to. His mom had held him down for vaccines as a child, not to mention getting stabbed over and over when nurses failed to get blood. But the doctor hadn’t really asked a question, so Evan just didn’t answer, silently staring at the door hoping someone would come and rescue him.

“Which arm?” Evan snapped back to reality, making eye contact with Dr Shaw for the first time since he had taken his pants off. Too nervous to speak, he lifted his left arm towards her.

“Ok, left. Sit up on the table for me and I’ll tie this around your arm…” Before he knew what was coming, Evan felt an alcohol swab on his arm and squeezed his eyes closed.

“You’ll feel a sharp scratch now, just stay nice and relaxed… Good.” The doctor was used to nerves, but there was something amusing about a big muscular firefighter being scared of a tiny needle. One by one, vials filled up and were dropped into a sample bag. Evan felt firm pressure on his elbow as the needle was pulled out.

“All done! I’m going to apply pressure for a minute until the bleeding stops. You did really well, you can relax now Evan.”

“Thanks Doc.” Glad to be done, Evan jumped down to leave.

“I’ll see you in two weeks for a follow up at the clinic.”

“See you then Doc… Wait what?”