“Right there,” Rachel said, wincing. “That dull ache I told you about.”
“I’ll be there,” her sister said without hesitation. “Always.”
“What is it?” Rachel asked, sitting up slightly.
The succulent, now thriving on her kitchen windowsill, became a quiet reminder: sometimes the scariest rooms are the ones that save your life. Rachel Steele - Gyno Exam
The Reluctant Return
“Okay,” she whispered. “Now.”
“Okay, Rachel,” Dr. Vance said, pulling on her gloves. “I’m going to lower the lights a bit. The overhead light is bright, but it helps me see. You can keep your eyes on the ceiling or on the plant. Your choice. Feet in the stirrups when you’re ready.” “Right there,” Rachel said, wincing
Dr. Vance took her hand. “You focus on the next step. Not the worst-case scenario. The next step is the MRI. And you come back to see me in two weeks to go over the results together. You’re not alone in this.”
“I don’t think so,” Dr. Vance said honestly. “But I don’t guess. I test. The ultrasound is painless—a small wand inside the vagina that uses soundwaves to create an image. We can do it right now, or you can come back. But my recommendation is now.”
Rachel cried—not from fear, but from relief. She scheduled the surgery for the following month. And she never missed another annual exam again. The succulent, now thriving on her kitchen windowsill,
Rachel looked at the tiny succulent on the table. Its green leaves were uncurling toward the fluorescent light. Something alive.
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.”
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.
She pulled out her phone and called her sister.
“You’re doing great,” Nurse Liam said quietly. “Your vitals are stable. Just breathe.”