Cheryl eyed the doctor up and down when she entered the room. The doctor seemed to greet her cordially but she didn't really pay attention to the words. She wasn't wearing a white coat, her clothes were not too fancy.

"And who is this you brought with you?" asked the doctor.

"This is Emily..." Cheryl nodded to the young woman sitting beside her, "my case manager."

Emily nodded silently from the corner, a relaxed professional expression on her face.

"And how can I help you today?" asked the doctor sitting down. 

She seemed nice enough, making eye contact and not just staring at the computer like most of the doctors. Cheryl scratched at the inflamed sores on her neck and noticed the doctor's eyes follow her hand. Where to start?

"I'm coughing a ton and itching all over. My back hurts because I have fibromyalgia and was in a car accident fifteen years ago. Providence Hospital still is trying to get me to take my ovarian cyst out but they are really screwing everything up. I also have endometriosis. I have bipolar and borderline personality disorder. My muscles are really in spasm..." The doctor sat staring at the computer screen on her round rolling stool her shoulder hunched forward, her brow slightly furrowed. Cheryl watched the doctor try not to flinch while she listened to Cheryl's complaints taking notes and clicking through her medical record. They never have enough time. 

Cheryl paused and the doctor looked up, "the simple answer is that I need all my medications refilled," said Cheryl. She noticed the doctor visibly relax. "I'm trying to get back on track," she added.

"That's no problem," said the doctor looking directly at Cheryl with a warm smile, "we can do that today." She turned back the computer and started clicking things furiously as Cheryl pulled one well-worn pill bottle after another out of her purse and placed them on the counter next to the doctor's keyboard. The doctor asked her benign questions about each medication.

"Where are you staying right now?" asked the doctor. 

"In a van with my boyfriend," said Cheryl. The doctor stopped typing and looked at Cheryl while she continued. "He's applying for social security. Then we can combine our funds...I told him if he didn't get on it it was over." The doctor didn't reply but continued asking her more questions about each pill. Cheryl relaxed a little. When she was done looking at all the bottles, however, the doctor got up and washed her hands. 

Cheryl frowned. The pill bottles weren't that sticky.

"Is there anything else I can help you with today?" asked the doctor glancing up briefly at the clock.

Shouldn't you be telling me what else I need to be doing, like if I need a pap smear?  

"No," said Cheryl. 

"Then you can pick up your medications at the pharmacy, they have been faxed through the computer," said the doctor with a weak smile as she rose from her chair and walked to the door.

"Thank you," said Cheryl. Fucking doctors.