Maggie didn’t like the doctor’s office. She didn’t like having to seek medical attention in general. So it was with trepidation that she made an appointment – only the second she’d had at this office – to see an internist. She’d been there about nine months ago to endure the head-to-toe physical required of all new patients to the practice. It was a dreadful experience, marked by all of the things she most hated about seeing the doctor: intrusiveness, unwelcome exposure, embarrassing exams. That had been a particularly thorough physical since she hadn’t submitted to one since her adolescence (a fact she was foolish enough to share).

Today she didn’t know what was going on, but she sensed something bad was brewing. Better to be proactive, right? Even she had to admit she was having a strange constellation of symptoms. She was tired and achy like a cold was coming on, but yesterday she started getting this burning sensation on her back, like a patch of sunburn. What was that about?

A door opened on the other side of the waiting room and a petite woman in blue scrubs looked out expectantly. “Stanford? Maggie Stanford?” Maggie got up and was ushered through the door into the clinical area. The layout was modern and minimalist, which she appreciated. When she was anxious, she found that she was more susceptible to sensory overload. And today she was especially anxious.

“Maggie, I’m Larissa, and I work with Dr. Winters. How are you feeling today?” she asked, leading the way down a sterile hallway and immediately into an exam room. That’s how they did it here. No hanging out in the hallway to get weighed and measured and answer personal questions in the arena. It was all set up to happen in the same room. There was even a bathroom in there.

“Not so good,” she admitted as she sank into a leather chair positioned near the computer station. “Well, hopefully we’ll get you feeling better soon,” Larissa said with a smile. Maggie’s brain was feeling a little foggy, probably because she was so tired. For that reason it took her a second to ask her next question. “Who’s Dr. Winters?”

Maggie watched as Larissa finger-pecked on her laptop with a ferocity she’d never seen before. It was like Larissa was being timed or something. Maggie wondered idly why nobody knew how to type anymore. Larissa looked up from her notetaking. “Oh, I’m sorry, the office was supposed to call and let you know that Dr. Shields had to refer her appointments for today to her partner. As it turns out, she isn’t feeling so great either,” Larissa said apologetically.

“When did she get a partner? I thought it was just her,” Maggie said. As Larissa began to busy herself grabbing a blood-pressure cuff and thermometer, she looked up and pursed her lips to one side, stopping to think for a minute. “It’s probably been five or six months now,” she replied speculatively. “Is it okay if I get started taking your vitals Maggie?” Maggie nodded, still considering the new doctor. She hadn’t planned on any surprises today. She was actually feeling a little less anxious than normal because she thought she knew what she was walking into. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

“Okay, your blood pressure is a little elevated today … it’s 140/80. Is that normal for you?” Larissa asked, replacing the cuff in its basket and running a digital thermometer across Maggie’s brow.

“I guess, I don’t really know,” Maggie admitted. “Coming to the doctor always makes me nervous though. Especially when I don’t know who I’m going to see,” she added, closing her eyes briefly. Larissa noted that Maggie had a low-grade fever, and leaned to a cabinet under the exam table to grab a folded gown and sheet. “I understand,” Larissa said with sympathy in her eyes. “It’s normal to be a little anxious. And I’m really sorry about the miscommunication regarding who you’d be seeing today. But Tim … sorry, Dr. Winters … he’s great. I haven’t met a patient who’s seen him and not liked him. You’re in good hands,” she said kindly.

“Now,” she continued, getting down to business. “Because of the symptoms you’re having today, I’ll need you to change into a gown for the doctor.”

Maggie heard the directive but didn’t act upon it immediately. She felt like she was under water and things were happening in slow motion. She could tell that her response time was much slower than normal. Then a wave of nausea rippled through her, causing her to bend over and clutch her stomach for twenty or thirty seconds.

Larissa’s voice penetrated the fog. “Maggie? You doing okay?” she asked, doing a quick pulse check and placing her hand on Maggie’s forehead. A rueful chuckle escaped Maggie’s mouth in spite of herself. “Well, I feel pretty horrible, but I think I’m okay,” she managed. “What were you saying?”

“Just that you need to undress, sweetie. You can leave your panties on, but take off everything else, including your bra. Gown opens in the front, and there’s a sheet here to keep your torso covered up.” Maggie nodded, suddenly wanting very much just to be alone. She was relieved when Larissa finally retreated, closing the door quietly behind her.

“Here we go,” Maggie sighed, rising from the chair and getting down to the business of stripping. Despite how sluggish she felt, she made quick work of it because she had a recurring nightmare of being walked in on in a state of partial undress. She folded her clothes in a neat pile and got up onto the table.