Sweet Adeline

Three - Questions

Adeline

I could see the tiredness in some of the nurses eyes as we walked down the halls of the hospital. Presumably, they're the night-shift nurses who haven't gotten off yet.

Owen, or Dr. Mathews as everyone else calls him, leads Evelyn and I through the hospital corridors, until we reach his office. Evelyn plops down on one of the chairs in front of the desk and sighs.

"I'm fine. I don't need a check up." Evelyn huffs
"You're not getting a checkup," Owen says, earning a scoff from Evelyn.
"Then why am I here?"
"You didn't let me finish." Owen says, rolling his eyes, "You aren't getting a checkup first." He turns to look at me, and my stomach drops. "Adeline is."
Evelyn smiles, clearly happy about not having to go first. She practically bounces from her seat and announces that she's going to visit the nurses desk. Owen attempts to tell her to be back at a certain time before she leaves the room, but Evelyn is already in the hall by the time he gets it out.

I point to a sticky note on his desk, asking silently if I can use it as I had forgotten to grab my whiteboard before leaving the house. He nods and hands me a pen to write with.
"When?" I write
"As soon as Dr. Allen is ready, which should be in a few minutes." Owen says
Confusion floods my mind at the mention of another doctor. "You're not doing it?" I scribble out quickly
"I can't. Since I'm your legal guardian, I'm not allowed treat you." Owen explains.

My brows furrow with worry. The more I think about having someone other than Owen doing the physical, the more I start to regret not fighting against it.
Immediately, the urge to leave takes over me. I don't want someone touching me, much less someone I don't know anything about.

"No thank you." I write and set the pen and note down. Owen is quick to stop me from walking away like Evelyn did. "Adeline, there's nothing to be afraid of. Dr. Allen is very kind. He's been taking care of Evelyn for years, and he's nothing but gentle. I swear." He looks at me, waiting for me to say something back.

"Come on, lets meet him at the room and we'll go from there. Okay?" Owen says, making it sound like more of an order than a question. I nod solemnly, knowing I'm not going to get out of it.

I grab a few sticky notes and the pen, and Owen takes me to an examination room. I can't help but cringe at the loud sound of the white paper crunching underneath me as I climb up.

"Will you be in here?" I write, making Owen look to me.
He sighs heavily, "I can be here for some of it if you want me, but I have to do rounds soon, so maybe not all of it."

What is left of my spirits fall. Even though I don't know Owen all that well, I would still rather have him here.

He must sense my mood change, and speaks back up, "Hey, don't worry. If you need me then Dr. Allen can page me and I'll come right back. Alright?"

I nod, and it isn't long after when someone knocks on the door. The heavy gray door opens, and a small blonde haired man steps through. His smile spreads from ear to ear, and he walks with a pep in his step.

"Good morning, Ms. Adeline, my name is Dr. Allen." He says as he sets his computer on the counter.
"It's nice to see you again, Owen."

"The same to you, Joseph." Owen says, shaking his hand. "If you don't mind, Adeline would like for me to stay with her until I have to do rounds."
"That's perfectly fine, you know that," he jokes with Owen. "Is Dr. Reynolds coming still?"

Another knock rings throughout the room, and Owen opens the door to reveal a smooth faced, thick brown haired man dressed in the same teal scrubs as everyone else in the hospital.

"That answers my question," Dr. Allen jokes as they greet each other. Nothing but confusion runs through me as the three of them converse without me. I had no idea of the third man being here, and I'm not thrilled to see him.