Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
The first two weeks as I regained my strength, I was constantly stressed from not being able to control my arms and legs or even lift my head at first. I’m almost back to the old me, though who would know? They rarely let me walk anywhere on my own. I’m nearly always carried.
After the bath, Kafran feeds me a bottle while Skarg sits behind my head, working through the tangles in my hair with a comb and then braids it in two thick lengths behind my ears. I’ve asked them to let me wear it loose, but they quickly realized the reason I want it down is so I can let it hang over my breasts and provide me with some amount of modesty. That’s a hard no.
I’m quiet as Skarg tucks me into my stroller, restraining me at the waist. While he’s still squatted in front of me, he grips my chin. “You may have your hands free only if we don’t catch you trying to cover your breasts. Understood?”
“Yes, Papi,” I mumble.
He lifts a brow. “I think your voice is a bit sassy, Baby girl. Make sure you do not touch your nipples for any reason. I don’t care if you have an itch. Hands away from your pretty titties.”
I sigh. “Yes, Sir.”
“Doctor, park, jeweler. Got it?”
“Yes, Papi.”
He kisses my forehead. “Good girl.”
The first two times they brought me to the clinic, I was also strapped into this stroller, but I didn’t have enough control over my neck to lean forward and look around. Today I can more clearly see there are a lot of women playing at the park as we walk past it. Too many. I hope most of them go home before we come back.
My Papis do not understand how unbelievably concerned I am about facing other people. They want me to make friends. I don’t even know how to make friends. They insist no one will make fun of me for any reason. I don’t think they understand how catty girls can be at any age. I almost hope the trip is a total disaster just so I can tell them “I told you so.” Maybe they won’t make me go again if other women make fun of me.
I take deep breaths as we reach the clinic. Already I’m clenching my butt cheeks together at the thought of that stupid probe being pushed into me.
The waiting room is more crowded than the previous times we’ve been here, and I lean back into the stroller and close my eyes so I won’t have to make eye contact with any of the other women waiting to see the doctor.
Luckily my Papis do not force me to interact. They don’t even make me get out of the stroller. That’s a relief, and we don’t have to wait too long for the receptionist to call us back to an exam room.
Crazy how I felt more unnerved in the waiting room than I do now that we’re in this confined space where the doctor will scrutinize every single aspect of my naked body. What an odd practice. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to not having at least a gown on in the clinic.
Kafran removes my diaper while we wait for the doctor, leaving me, once again, completely naked on the exam table. A few minutes later, Thabo enters. I remember him from my second visit a week ago.
He smiles warmly. It seems every Eleadian is kind and welcoming. They are the nicest beings in the universe. I don’t think I ever met a single human on Earth who was as caring as every single man on this planet.
“Hey there, Mercy. It looks like you’ve regained most of your strength.”
“Yes, Sir.”
He quickly goes through the preliminaries and then checks my muscle tone by having me push and pull against his fingers with my hands and legs.
He glances at my Papis. “I did extensive testing on her urine and blood last week. I don’t see a single issue with her kidney. We’ll check it once a year just to be sure no problems develop, but I see no reason why she shouldn’t live a full healthy life with the one kidney.”
“Thank you,” my Papis say at the same time, relief in their voices.
My body relaxes, too. After all, the news that I’m missing a kidney is as shocking to me as it is to them.
I don’t say much as Thabo continues to examine me, trying to ignore the invasiveness of his procedures. “Any particular concerns?”
“Only that she’s really struggling with body image,” Kafran says. “No matter how many times we tell her she’s perfect in every way, her mind is still telling her the opposite.”
Thabo sits on the stool in front of me, his head tipped back a few inches to meet my gaze. His hands settle on my knees. “It will take time to undo the damage done in her past, but she’ll get there. Abuse is difficult to overcome. Verbal abuse is sometimes worse than physical. Have you set up any play dates or taken her to the park yet?”