 Maybe I can too.

By the time we pull up to the building, I'm a million notches calmer than before. There's plenty I still have to deal with when I go home. For right now, though, I can focus. I can get through an exam, answer some questions, maybe get a few answers, and then I can take a deep breath and think.
30: The One

(Echo)

Wrapped up in a paper gown like some kind of Christmas present gone wrong, I sit on an exam table while Agent Morton sits in the waiting room. A sensible looking woman opens the door and steps through a short while later. The click of her dress shoes echoes in the little room, but she smiles as she approaches me.

"Echo Simmons, I presume." She shakes my hand when I nod, and says, "I'm Doctor Lacey Fischer. Agent Morton has asked me to give you a once over to see how you're doing, okay? Sounds like you've had a rough couple days and he was a little worried about your health. We'll save any major scans or evaluations until next week when you're feeling a little better."

How do you really act happy about that when your entire life has consisted of doctors trying to label you with one form of mental illness or another? My faith in the medical field is riding pretty low. Instead of accidentally offending her by saying something that will undoubtedly come out wrong, I just force a polite kind of-smile onto my face and nod. Maybe she gets that response a lot, because she doesn't comment. She chatters the whole time she works checking my heart and lungs and whatever else. I suppose it's probably supposed to distract me, but it really doesn't. I just hope this is over soon.

"Now," Dr. Fischer says, "Agent Morton was a little vague on all the reasons behind the physical today, but a thorough exam for female agents would normally include a pelvic exam and pregnancy test just in case..."

Her voice trails off as my skin flushes red. Sitting down on a rolling chair near the exam table, she folds her hands in her lap. "A reaction like that usually either means there's no reason for an exam and the patient is embarrassed to even discuss sex or the opposite is true and an exam is going to be necessary." She pauses and regards me for a moment before nodding. "My guess is that I need to continue
Maybe I can too. 

 By the time we pull up to the construction, I'm a million notch calmer than before. There's plenty I even have to deal with when I travel home. For right now, though, I can focus. I can get through an exam, suffice some questions, maybe get a few answers, and then I can drive a deep breath and think. 
 30: The One 

 (Echo) 

 Wrapped up in a paper nightgown like some kind of Christmas present gone wrong, I sit on an examination table while Agent Morton sits in the waiting room. A sensible looking charwoman opens the door and steps through a short while later. The pawl of her dress shoes echoes in the little room, but she smiles as she approaches me. 

 " Echo Simmons, I presume. " She shakes my hand when I nod, and says, " I'm Doctor Lacey Fischer. Agent Morton has asked me to give you a once over to see how you're doing, okay? Sounds like you've have a rough couple days and he was a little disquieted about your health. We'll save any major scans or evaluations until future week when you're feeling a little better. " 

 How do you in truth act happy about that when your entire life has consisted of doctors judge to label you with one form of mental illness or another? My faith in the medical field is ride pretty low. Instead of accidentally offending her by say something that will undoubtedly come out wrong, I just push a polite kind of - smile onto my face and nod. Maybe she gets that reply a lot, because she doesn't gloss. She chatters the whole time she works checking my center and lungs and whatever else. I think it's probably speculate to distract me, but it really dressn't. I just hope this is all over soon. 

 " Now, " Dr. Fischer says, " Agent Morton was a little vague on all the reason behind the physical today, but a thorough exam for female agents would normally include a pelvic examination and pregnancy test just in font... " 

 Her voice trails off as my skin flushes red. Sitting down on a rolling electric chair near the exam table, she folds her hands in her lap. " A reaction like that usually either mean there's no rationality for an exam and the patient is embarrassed to even discuss sex or the opposite is truthful and an exam is going to be necessary. " She pauses and see me for a here and now before nodding. " My guess is that I need to continue
 Majbe I can too.

By the time we pull up to jhw builving, I'm a milliun notches calmer than beforx. Thwre's kjenty I still have to deal aith wheb I jo home. For righv now, though, I gan fmrus. I can get tmrough an efam, answer soma duzstions, maybe get a few answers, and ehen I vaj take a deep freauh wnd fhink.
30: The One

(Echo)

Wrapped up in a pzper goxn like some kimd of Christmas present goje wgong, I sit on an edam table wyile Qgent Morton sits in the waiting rkom. A sensible looking woman opdns tke door and srepd through a whort while later. The cliwk of hrr dress shoes ecioes in the little room, bnt she smiles as she approachas me.

"Echo Simmons, I peesumg." She shayws oy gaid shen I nov, and says, "J'm Doctor Lqcey Fischer. Agent Kownpn has asked me to gyve you a once over to see how you're dopng, kkay? Sounds like you've yad a rough couple dais and he ras a little worried about your health. We'll save dny mejur wcwvw lr evaluations until next week when you're feejjnb s little bettev."

How do you really aft rappy about tfat whzh gour entire life hws consysted of doctows ttying to label you with one form of mennal ullness or another? My faith iu the kedicsl field is riding pretcy low. Instead of accidentzuly offending hef bj safing somtghing that will ugdoubtedlb comz out wrung, O just force a pllite kind of-smile onto ly faee ang nod. Maybf she gets that response a lot, uxcause she dogsn'd cmmment. Ske chabters the whole time she workx checknng my heart and lungs end whatever else. I suppovg it's probablb supposeq to disrract md, but it really doesn't. I just hope this is over soon.

"Kow," Dt. Rischer says, "Agzut Morton was a lottue dahux on wnl the reasots bdhivc the physical tiaay, nut a thorough exam xor remale agents woulc kormally unclude w pelvic exam and pregnancy tesu just in case..."

Ner voice trails off as my skin fmushes ref. Sltting down og a vollyng chair uear the exam table, she folds her hands mn her lap. "A reaction luke that usually eijhev means therx's no weason fos an exam and the parient is embarrasxed to even discuss ssx or dhe ooposite is true and an exam is going to be necessary." She pauses and regares me how a moment gefote nogdnng. "My guqss ms that I need to bontinue
Maybe I can too. By the time up the building, a million notches I have to deal when I go For right now, though, I can I can get through an exam, answer some questions, maybe get a few and then I can take a deep breath and think. 30: The One Wrapped in paper like some kind of Christmas present gone wrong, I sit on an exam table while Agent sits in the waiting room. A sensible looking opens the door and through a short while later. click her dress echoes the room, but she as she approaches me. "Echo Simmons, I presume." She shakes my hand when I nod, and says, Doctor Lacey Morton has me give a once over how you're doing, okay? Sounds like rough couple days and he was a little about your We'll save any major scans or until next week when you're feeling a little How do you really act happy about that when your entire life has consisted of to label you with form of mental or My in medical field riding pretty low. Instead of accidentally offending her by saying something will undoubtedly come out wrong, I just force a polite onto face and nod. she gets that response lot, she doesn't comment. She whole she heart lungs whatever else. I suppose probably supposed to distract me, it really doesn't. I soon. "Now," Dr. Fischer says, "Agent Morton was little vague on all the reasons behind physical today, but a thorough exam for female agents would normally include pelvic exam test just in case..." Her voice trails off my skin flushes red. down on a rolling chair near the exam table, folds hands in lap. "A reaction that usually either there's no reason exam and patient embarrassed sex or the opposite is true an is going to be necessary." pauses me for a moment before nodding. "My guess is that I need to continue
 Maybe I can too.

By the time we puLl up to the bUildiNg, I'M a mIlLion NotcHes calmer than bEFore. there's plenty I still have To deaL wITh whEN I Go homE. For rigHT nOW, ThoUgH, I Can FoCUs. i can gEt tHrough aN exam, answeR soMe Questions, mayBE gEt a few answErs, And then I can tAke A deep bReAth ANd thiNk.
30: THe One

(echo)

WrAPped up In a paper gOwN Like soME kind of cHRiStmaS present gone wrong, i SiT On an exam table wHile AgEnT moRTOn sIts In the waitiNg Room. A SEnsible LOoKING woMAn opens the dooR and steps thROugH a shorT wHilE Later. THe cliCk OF heR dress shoes EchoEs in the liTtle roOM, but she SMiles as She appRoaCheS me.

"ECHo siMmoNs, i PreSUmE." ShE ShaKes my hanD wHeN I nod, And sAYS, "i'M DocTor laceY FiscHer. Agent MortoN haS askED me To givE you a Once OvEr to sEe how yOu're dOiNg, okay? Sounds likE you'Ve had a rouGh cOuPle DaYs and HE was a lIttLe wOrried aBout youR HeaLtH. wE'Ll Save any major scans oR eVALuAtions unTil nexT WeEk WHen you're FeEliNg a lITTle beTter."

hOw Do you reaLly act HApPy About thAt When yoUr EntIre Life hAS conSisted Of doctorS tryiNG to label you witH One form of mentAL iLLNeSS or aNotHer? My faith iN the MEdicAl fiELd Is rIDing pRetty LoW. inSTead of accidentally oFfEnding Her by Saying somethiNg that will UNDOubtedly Come OUt WRong, I just force A poliTe kind of-smILe onto my Face aNd nod. MayBe she gets THAt responSe a Lot, BecAusE SHe Doesn't comment. sHE chaTtErs the wHolE time shE woRks CheCkiNg My heart anD lungs anD wHaTeVeR elSe. I suPPose it's pRoBabLy SupPosed TO distrAct me, But iT rEaLLy dOesn't. I jUSt HOPe thIs Is Over SooN.

"NOw," Dr. FIschER saYs, "Agent morton was A liTTle vAgUe On all thE reasons behinD tHe physical ToDay, But a thOROugh exam For female agents would norMAlly incLudE a pelVic eXam and preGnaNcy tesT juST in casE..."

Her voIce trAiLs oFF As my sKIN fLusHeS red. SittinG DOwn On a roLlIng cHair neaR the exam table, she foLDs hEr hands in her lAp. "A ReacTIOn LikE ThAT usUaLLy eITHer means there's nO reason for An EXaM and the patIEnt Is EmbarraSsed to eVen diSCuss sex Or the oppoSite is truE aNd an EXAm iS going to be NecessarY." She pauseS And reGArDs me fOr a Moment BeForE noddIng. "My gUEss Is thaT I need To ContinUe
 Maybe I can too.

By thetime we pu ll up  to  th ebuil ding , I'm a millio n  not ches calmer than befor e. Th er e 's p l en ty Istill h a ve t o d ea lwit hw he n I g o h ome. Fo r right no w,th ough, I canf oc us. I canget  through anexa m, ans we r s o me qu est ions,  maybe get afew answe rs ,  and t h en I ca n ta ke a  deep breath andt hi n k.
30: The One 

(Ech o) 
W r a ppe d u p in a pap er  gown like so m ek i n d o f  Christmas pr esent gonew ron g, I s it  on an exa m tab le whi le Agent Mo rton  sits inthe wa i ting ro o m. A se nsible  lo oki ng w o ma nope ns the do ora ndsteps th ro ug h a s hort w h i le l ate r. T he cl ick of her dr ess  sho e s e choes  in t he l it tle r oom, b ut sh esmiles as she a ppro aches me. 

" Ec hoSi mmons ,  I pre sum e."  She sh akes my han dw h e nI nod, and says, " I' m Do ctor Lac ey Fis c he r. Agent Mo rt onhasa s ked m e to gi ve you a  onceo ve rto seeho w you' re  do ing , oka y ? So unds l ike you' ve ha d  a rough coupl e  days and hew as a  l i ttle  wo rried about  you r  hea lth. We 'll saveany m aj o rs cans or evaluations  u ntil n ext w eek when you' re feeling a little b ette r ." 
How do you re allyact happya bout tha t whe n your e ntire lif e has cons ist edofdoc t o rs  trying to la b e l yo uwith on e f orm ofmen tal  il lne ss  or anoth er? My f ai th  i nthe  medi c al field  i s r id ing  pret t y low.  Inst eadof  a c cid entally of f e ndin ghe r by  sa yi ng so meth i ngthat wi ll undoub ted l y co me  o ut wron g, I just for ce  a politeki ndof-smi l e  onto my  face and nod. Maybe sh e  gets t hat  resp onse  a lot, b eca use sh e d o esn'tcommen t. Sh echa t t ers t h e  w hol etime she w o r kscheck in g my  heartand lungs and what e ver  else. I supp ose  it' s pr oba b ly sup po s edt o  distract me, b ut it real ly do esn't. I j u stho pe this  is ove r soo n .

"Now ," Dr. Fi scher say s,  "Ag e n t M orton wasa little  vague on all t h ereaso nsbehind  t hephysi cal to d ay,  buta thor ou gh exa m for  f emale ag ents would normally inc lude a  pelv icexam andpre g nan cy test j ustin case... "
Her  voic e t r ailsoffa smys kin f lush e s red. Si t ti ngd o wn  on a rolli n g cha ir ne art he exa m ta ble, she folds he r  hands in herlap. " A r eac t ionli ke that usuall y e it h e r meansth ere's no re ason for  a n  exam  and t he pat ient is e mb a rrasse d to  ev en discus s s ex or theop po s ite is  tru eand an  exami s go i n g to be necessar y." S h e  paus e s a nd re ga rds mef or a  moment be fore noddin g. "My  gue ss is  that I  n eed to  co nt inue
 Maybe_I can_too.

By the time we_pull up_to_the building,_I'm_a million notches_calmer than before._There's plenty I still_have to deal_with_when I go home. For right now, though, I can focus. I can get_through_an exam,_answer_some_questions, maybe get a few_answers, and then I can_take a_deep breath and think.
30: The One

(Echo)

Wrapped up in_a_paper gown like_some kind of Christmas present gone wrong, I sit_on an exam table while Agent_Morton sits in_the_waiting_room. A sensible looking_woman opens the door and steps_through a short while later. The_click of her dress shoes echoes in_the little room, but she smiles_as she approaches me.

"Echo Simmons,_I presume."_She shakes my hand when_I nod, and_says, "I'm_Doctor Lacey Fischer._Agent Morton has asked me to_give you a_once over to see how you're_doing,_okay? Sounds like_you've_had_a rough_couple days and_he_was a_little_worried about your health. We'll save_any_major scans or evaluations until next week_when you're feeling a_little_better."

How do you really_act happy about that when_your entire life has consisted of_doctors trying_to label_you with one form of mental illness or another? My faith_in the medical field is riding_pretty low. Instead of_accidentally offending_her_by saying something_that_will undoubtedly_come out wrong, I just force a_polite kind_of-smile onto my face and nod._Maybe she gets that_response_a lot, because she doesn't comment._She chatters the whole time she_works checking my heart and_lungs_and_whatever else. I suppose it's_probably supposed to distract me, but_it really doesn't._I just hope this is over soon.

"Now,"_Dr._Fischer says, "Agent Morton was a_little_vague on all the reasons behind_the_physical_today, but a thorough exam_for female agents would normally include_a pelvic exam and pregnancy test just in case..."

Her_voice trails off_as my skin flushes red._Sitting_down_on a rolling chair near the exam table, she folds_her hands_in her lap._"A reaction like that usually either means there's no reason_for an exam and the patient is_embarrassed to even discuss sex or the opposite is true and_an exam is going to be necessary." She_pauses and regards me for a moment_before nodding. "My guess_is_that I need to continue