Once he had finished listening, Devin placed a hand gently on Carrie's abdomen, starting on the upper right and moving gradually in a clockwise circle, not really pressing, just feeling. When he was back where he started, he began to press down lightly. "Tell me if anything hurts," he said, as he continued this light palpation around her entire midsection. The next trip around, he pressed a little bit deeper, again reminding her to let him know if she had any pain. "Take a big breath in and hold it," he told her when he had again reached his starting point. As she did so, he pressed harder still, feeling for the deepest of organs inside her abdominal cavity. She let out a slight grunt of discomfort. "I know that's a bit uncomfortable," he said, "but no sharp pain, right?" She shook her head no. "Good," he said. He pulled the gown back down to her waist. She hoped he was finally satisfied now and would just leave her alone for the night.

Before she could sit up, he laid his hand across her now covered abdomen. She felt the butterflies again, but this time for a different reason. She couldn't explain what it was about this gesture that excited her so. She looked up at him.

"So, Carrie," he said. "At that last physical you had in high school, did you have a breast and pelvic exam?"

She felt like a deer caught in headlights. "Uh... no," she replied.

"So you've never had either, then?"

She shook her head.

"Then this will be your first."

Her eyes pleaded with him. "Devin… no."

"Carrie…"

"No, dammit!" She sat up, pulling herself out from under his hand. "That has nothing to do with my headache or my passing out. It is completely unnecessary, and it's not going to happen!"

The look he gave her caught her off guard. She instantly felt guilty, as if it was one of her parents she had spoken to so defiantly. How did he do that?

He spoke calmly but firmly. "It's not about the migraine anymore, Carrie. You have not taken care of yourself, and I need to know that you are healthy. These are very important exams that you should have been getting yearly for the past fifteen years. Now you need to stop acting like a child. The sooner we start, the sooner it can be over."

Feeling sufficiently scolded, she sighed in defeat. "Fine."