Penzance

Chapter 2

"Cora! Oh my god! Are you ok? Is she ok?" Mom explodes with questions directed at me and the medical staff. My dad follows close behind.

Mom holds my hand as the paramedics wheeled me into the ER. The typical hospital smell of cleaning supplies and the iron smell of blood hangs heavy in the air. My sense of smell has always been strong, but over the last few weeks, it seems to have even gotten stronger. There are certain smells that turn my stomach, but this lingering scent is not one of them.

The paramedics park me in the nearest clear bay, update the appointed nurse with my vitals, and are off with a wave of their hands. My mom continues to hold my hand in almost fear of letting it go.

"I'm fine mom! I just fainted that's all," I reassure my mom as her nerves are visibly rising with the lack of answers from the medical staff. Suddenly from behind the curtain, a doctor appears.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin, I'm Dr. Cerise," he introduces himself and shakes hands with my parents. "Cora, how are you feeling?"

"I feel ok, just tired."

The doctor begins his thorough check-up of me while continuing to ask questions. "Have you fainted before? Have you been eating and drinking regularly? Sleeping?"

"No. Yes. No," I answer.

"You're currently on Zoloft to help with your anxiety, correct?" the doctor asked without looking at either myself or my parents.

"Yes," I answer.

"Has it been working?"

"Yes!" my mom answers without even checking with me.

"No," I quietly answered.

My mom turns to face me. "Honey, why didn't you say anything?" my mom asks me while probably searching through her memories of the last couple of days for signs she had missed.

"It has just been the last week or so that I have felt off. I figured it was final exams anxiety, " I explained to put her at ease.

"Cora, can you describe what you have been experiencing this last week?" Dr. Cerise asks.

I explain in detail what I had been feeling from the knot in my stomach to my sleepless nights. I purposely leave out my nightly dreams and today's dream while on the bathroom floor. Plus, they are just dreams anyway.

"Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin, according to the record here Cora is adopted correct?" Dr. Cerise asks and my parents respond with a yes. The doctor continues. "Do you have complete health records from the birth parents?"

"Unfortunately no," my mom answers. "Cora was abandoned right after birth. Her birth mother was never found."

My adoption was never kept a secret from me. As soon as I was old enough to understand, I was told that I was born to another mother who could not take care of me. Mom and dad choose me to complete their family.

The doctor nods and continues with my examination. He kneads my belly, but I feel nothing. The knot and pain are gone. He listens to my heart and breathing, all are fine. He retakes my blood pressure, which is in the normal range. No fever. No headache. Nothing broken. No pain. I'm just tired and confused about today's events.

"All of Cora's vitals are normal, and as long as she is feeling ok, she can be discharged today." The doctor went on to request that I be seen by my regular doctor as soon as possible to check up on my medication and anxiety levels. He also requests that if I were to feel dizzy or faint again to call 911. My parents thank Dr. Cerise and shake his hand before he disappears through the curtain.