The Distance Within

19.

E.

"Hello, I was called to come and collect my tests." Leaning against the counter I nervously smile at the receptionist.

"Your name please?" She barely looks up from her computer.

"Evelyn Young."

"It shows me that you have your Id registered online under your number, so if you'd give me it meanwhile I'll contact the doctor to see if he is currently free and call you."

I nod, reciting my number before smiling at her 'you can go rest'. Walking over the waiting area I busy myself with my fingernails, my legs jittery waiting for my name to be called. It was now Tuesday two days after my call with August where he somewhat reminded me to get checked, and two days away from Xanders birthday, where he turns four.

I smile faintly remembering his excitement, every day for the past week walking up with a soft glint in his eyes, "My birfday now?" Is the first thing he lets out.

"Ms Young, let's go check your vitals before you can see the doctor." A young man with a beard smiles my way and I follow him walking into a small room before finishing everything in the span of five minutes and heading to the doctor's office.

The nurse -that I got to know was named Josh- knocked on the door before we enter, Dr Richards gentle smile already present, and old sweet man in his mere seventies that Ive visited before. "Ahhh, Evelyn. How are you?"

"I'm alright, and you?" I sit by the chairs placed in front of his desk, Josh filling in some papers before handing them to him, silence lays after he answers my question, my leg bouncing and coughs close to erupting, but held back as usual. The look on his face stays bare, not giving anything away making my anxiousness rise.

"So, I'm going to start off with asking you questions I didn't think were required last time."

"Have you had pain in your joints for longer than a month?"

"Well, below my ribs at times."

"Last time you said you were feeling nausea, however, is the relief coming by vomiting or without?"

"Um, no...no vomiting at all." I swallow back.

"What about fatigue, how bad is it?"

"Like...like I said last time, sometimes it gets too extreme that my body falls into this alluring sleep? It's like a sleep I can't avoid and always wake up hours after."

"Well, Uh...about weight loss, have you had any major weight loss in the past, or even recently before you visit us?" He asks tentatively as if that this answer can draw up all conclusions.

"Last year I started losing weight without any intention of doing so, to this day it's like no matter how much I attempt to gain it all goes in a matter of days."

"So you're facing a loss of appetite?"

And I nod curtly waiting for what he was going to say next. "Evelyn, I've had a couple of suspicions and your answers are leading to..."

My heart starts beating faster, my hands more tremulous with anticipation, "...I'm afraid it looks like you have developed active tuberculosis, Evelyn." He looks at me with a gentle smile and downcast eyes, the heart that was once rapidly beating was now slower than I'd be able to explain, the world around me froze every small tick was suddenly a magnified ringing in my ear.

I recalled taking it in 12th grade, tuberculosis. It rang a loud bell of trepidation. "Miss Young?" A loud voice called out, gaze broken from the wall and staring intently at them.