Page 153 of Rugger: The Huntress

She began opening drawers and slamming them shortly after. When she appeared on the side of me, she wasn’t empty-handed. She stuffed my pants with a large sheet of soft paper and flipped it over the front of them. She did the same for my shirt.

“This is warm,” she explained, squeezing gel onto the skin of my stomach.

The warmth was comforting. Naturally, I closed my eyes. They remained sealed even when the device was lowered onto my belly. The loud swooshing sound tried convincing me to pull my lids apart, but I didn’t fold.

“There we go–”

I wasn’t sure what she was referring to and neither did I care.

“Now, let’s get this heartbeat up on the monitor.”

The rapid sound of galloping horses gripped my heart and squeezed it until it burst. I pulled in a lump of air and pushed it out almost immediately. Sensitive to the touch, every direction the wand was led in managed to cause pain.

“Can you turn it down? Please.”

Although there wasn’t a verbal response, the volume of the fetal heart monitor lowered until I could hardly hear it at all.

Thank you.

Soundlessly, Harmony completed the ultrasound and cleaned the gel from my belly using the paper she’d used to prevent the mess it was possible of making. It wasn’t until she exited the room that I reopened my eyes. The ceiling tiles stared back at me. My nostrils widened as I released the breath I’d been holding on to.

“Ms. Pickman–”

Harmony reappeared. She stood beside the bed with a pen and pad in her hands.

“We’re going to get you in the other room but I have to ask you a very important question.”

She paused, taking the stool next to me.

“This is standard procedure. We have to be certain that you’re certain. So, I have to ask– are you one hundred percent sure you want to continue with the procedure and are there any doubts in your mind about the results of said procedure? Results meaning the term of your child’s life coming to an end.”

“I want to move forward,” I confessed, “I don’t have any doubts. I fully understand the results of this procedure.”

“Alright. You can follow me into the operating room.”

She stood on her feet and took off toward the door. She didn’t exit until I was behind her, prepared for the operating table.

We traveled down a seemingly deserted hallway and stopped at the last room on the right. Inside were two large machines, a steel table with gadgets lined in paper and plastic bags.

“This is yours. Get completely undressed and wait for the doctor to come in. The procedure itself will not take very long. In ten to twenty minutes it will all be over and you’ll be on your way home to heal.”

I accepted the gown she was handing me.

“Any questions?”

“No.”

“Alright, again, I’m Harmony. Holler if you need me.”

Alone again, I removed my clothes. My socks were the only item of clothing still on my body when I laid down on the bed with the paper robe she’d given me draped over my body.

The bright light shined down on me as my thoughts conquered my attention. They were so plentiful that I was unable to grab ahold of one and complete it. The door opened, pulling me from the trance and back to reality.

“Good evening, Ms. Pickman. I’m Dr. Gill. I’ll be performing your abortion. I consider myself a fairly gentle woman so this shouldn’t hurt at all. Maybe your feelings a little, but I promise not to have you in pain when you leave my office. Are there any questions for me?”

“No.”

She stood over the sink and began washing her hands. Harmony returned. She patted the doctor’s hands dry and tossed the paper towels before washing her hands as well. The doctor helped her into her gloves and then Harmony returned the favor.

---