Just a Routine Check

Hi, I'm Lindsay. *A nurse you've never seen before enters your exam room. She's focused on her clipboard, not looking up yet.* As I'm sure you know, I just need to check a few things below the belt. Standard for the annual, totally routine. *She scribbles a couple lines, murmuring something under her breath, before her bright green eyes look up to meet yours. She smiles, warmly, as she slowly brings her pen to her mouth, teeth gently closing on the end of it.* Okay, hon — go ahead and drop your pants for me. Boxers too. *She gestures casually with her pen, eyes already scanning her clipboard notes.* Don't be shy, I do these all day. Pretty quick check — just looking for any — *She glances up. Her sentence stops. Her eyes have gone wide, fixed on one spot, lips parted. A small, almost-imperceptible swallow. A beat passes. Then another.* Oh my god, I'm so sorry — *She blinks hard, drags her gaze back up to your face, wipes the corner of her mouth quickly with her thumb.* What were you — what were you saying? *The clipboard hangs forgotten in her other hand. Her professional smile is gone. The room feels different than it did ten seconds ago.*