A couple of weeks ago, in said Ross, an old man was particularly offended by their situation and made it his business to tell everyone around him, “What they don’t know won’t hurt them. Unless it bothers you, of course.” He said distractedly.
Cherish shook her head as she lifted her shirt, unzipped her pants, and paused while she poked her shrinking stomach. Thanks to Jr.’s constant feeds, her stomach was the flattest it had been and all she had to do was work out once she was cleared. She rolled both her pants and panties down before folding them together and setting them on the floor by her feet, “No, it doesn’t bother me, really. It’s just I don’t know what to do when I’m put on the spot like that. It makes me nervous and uncomfortable.” She wrapped the sheet around her bare torso and sat back down with a sigh, “Thank you for doing this. You can turn around now. I think my cookie is covered.” She stated with a straight face.
Simon laughed and turned around. Thankfully, her sense of humor had returned along the same time as his, “Sorry then, I won’t put you on the spot anymore.” He said.
As she sat there, she came off as a little helpless and unsure of what to expect. He knew whatever went on with her worried her more than she wanted to admit; it certainly did him. Approaching Cherish, he pressed a hand to her forehead and pat over her curls; ignoring she was completely naked under the thin sheet.
Cherish inhaled a deep breath and smiled at Simon. Seeing her relax caused him to drop his guard as well. She was still getting used to the vast treatment change she received between Todd and him. She and Simon were far from intimate, yet he instilled an odd sense of hope that care wasn’t dead in the world.
A knock sounded at the door and Dr. Cohen walked in with Cherish’s chart in his arm. He looked at the two of them and paused for a moment, looked down at the paper, and blinked, “You aren’t…the father are you?” he asked looking between them. He’d already looked over her hospital record and knew she was considered a battered victim of abuse. There was no way he’d speak to Cherish about her health with a man who posed as a risk in the room. The last thing he would give Todd was ammo to use against her.
“Ah, no. I’m not, but I’m here to support Cherish.” Simon confessed, “Do I need to leave?” he asked.
Doctor Cohen looked to Cherish over his wire rimmed glasses stared at her, "Only if Miss Montgomery wants you too." He answered.
Cherish looked to Simon before she rubbed her thighs, "No its fine. If there is anyone I want here, it'd be Simon." She answered.
The doctor nodded before he set the clipboard down and held his hand out to shake, "Alright then. I am Doctor Cohen. How are you feeling, Cherish? Any mood swings or sad feelings, or differences in your mindset?" Even though he asked her the questions, he looked to Simon for an answer. Women with Post-Partum Depression and battery were always ones to deny the truth.
Cherish shook his hand before she peered upward and pushed her lips to the side, "Not that I know of. The only thing that's really different is...the area down there." She answered.
Simon knew firsthand on how Cherish would minimalize and understate her struggles and issues. She always opted to lie about how she was before she’d ever admit it. Hesitating, he spoke up, “There have been times where you switch from happy to sad. I mean…” He tried to reword himself, “You’re happy in front of me, but I watch you when you think I’m not there and you look really sad.” He stated full of concern. That was just one of the problems troubling him lately with her. He knew what it felt like to be depressed and how she felt the need to put on a brave face. It didn’t feel right. He was on the road to recovery and he wanted to same for her.
Cherish’s stomach fell as her head snapped up towards Simon. This caught her entirely off guard because she didn’t notice it herself, “I-I do?” she questioned.
Doctor Cohen pulled the stirrups from the sides of the table and began to lean the examining table back, “A bit of sadness and mood swings are normal as your hormones stabilize themselves. Sit back please.” He said. Cherish pushed herself back and laid against the angled surface before placing her legs up. He reached over and pulled a couple of gloves from the wall and slipped them on, “Have you had any contact with the father?” he questioned.
Cherish shook her head several times and clenched her hands into loose fists, “N-no. Not at all. He wouldn’t know where to find me.” She answered.
Dr. Cohen grabbed the overhead light and pulled it down before he clicked the button. The light flashed down and illuminated Cherish’s genetalia and he peered down and touched where the bulge appeared. Her entire body tightened and he pulled away slightly, “You’re healing nicely from the injuries you sustained in birth. But, you have a cyst filled with blood and that’s what’s causing you to feel tender. It’s only going to get worse and bigger, but it’s nothing detrimental to your health.
Cherish stared down at the top of his head and bit on her bottom lip, “So what does that mean?” she asked.
Doctor Cohen pulled away and tugged the gloves off before he tossed them into the bin, “We will have to lance it and let it drain. Afterwards, you shouldn’t have any more issues. Everything else seems fine.” He answered.
Simon had mixed signals. Even though the doctor said she was
