Mama's Little Girls

thirty-one

Onika Maraj
16 September 2019
OB-GYN Office

I walked into the OB-GYN's office, clutching my bag tightly and glancing around as I waited for my name to be called. I'd had this IUD for a while now, and it was supposed to be low-maintenance, but I wanted to be sure everything was in order. I never liked taking chances with my health, and besides, things were serious with Beyoncé—I wanted to be on top of things.

After a few minutes, the nurse called my name, leading me into an exam room where she handed me the thin paper gown and left me to change. I draped my clothes neatly over the chair, then settled on the exam table, waiting for Dr. Waters to come in.

When she did, her face was all business as she greeted me and began her standard questions.

"So, how's the IUD been working for you?" She asked, glancing up at me over the top of her clipboard.

"Pretty good. No issues." I replied, giving a little shrug.

She nodded, noting it down. "Great. Let's take a look to make sure everything's still positioned properly."

The checkup was quick, and after a moment, Dr. Waters smiled, confirming, "Everything's in place and functioning as it should. You're good to go."

I exhaled in relief but paused before getting up. "Actually, there's one more thing I wanted to talk about."

She raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"Could you prescribe me some birth control?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. "I just—I'm not exactly a fan of using other types of protection."

Dr. Waters looked surprised for a split second, and then she hid it with a nod. "Alright, I can definitely prescribe that for you. Just to confirm, though—are you currently sexually active?"

I nodded, feeling a little heat rise to my cheeks.

"Okay, we'll go over a few options, but it sounds like an oral contraceptive would work well for you." She said, scribbling something on her clipboard. "You'll take one pill every day, ideally at the same time each day. Do you have any questions?"

"No, I think I'm good." I said quickly, eager to wrap up.

"All set." She said, handing me a printout of instructions along with my prescription details. She paused, glancing at me one last time. "Just remember, doubling up on contraceptive methods offers better protection, especially against infections."

I managed a polite nod, tucking the paper into my bag. I knew all that—she didn't need to remind me.

As I left the office, I felt a strange mix of relief and something else. It was strange, realising I was involved with someone else in such an intimate way. I shook it off as I headed to the parking garage and jumped in my car, my mind shifting quickly back to work.

When I arrived at the office, I didn't waste any time heading straight to my desk, dropping my bag on my chair, and glancing at the files already stacked for review. My client was scheduled to come in for a preliminary meeting about her upcoming case. I scanned through the documents, mentally preparing, when I heard Maya's familiar voice nearby.

"Hey, Onika. Need anything before your meeting?" She asked, leaning against my desk with a warm smile.

"Actually, yes. I've got a few things in mind." I replied, closing the case file. "Could you book me a hair appointment? It's overdue. And while you're at it, a mani-pedi."

She nodded, tapping the notes into her phone. "Got it. I'll have those set up for you this week."

"Perfect, thank you." I smiled at her, grateful as always for her competence. She always knew just how to keep my schedule in check.