Page 23 of XO

6

THEN

“I suspect it’s a severe case of endometriosis,” Dr. Symmonds informs my father who’s sitting on the edge of the bed. I look out the window and notice it’s already dark. “But I can’t be certain of that until I perform an examination. We’ll wait a few days for that to happen, so in the meantime, I suggest taking these.” The doctor hands my mother a small orange bottle of pain relief. “That’s all I can give you without a completed script, but you should be able to get this filled tomorrow.” He pulls his script pad from his case, fills it out and hands it over.

“Will she be okay?” my father asks, worry lines still etched around his eyes.

“She’ll be fine, now. It’s not uncommon amongst young girls, but the symptoms she’s been displaying tells me it could be severe as stage four endo, which for someone her age, is a quite worrisome.”

There’s a fleeting moment of sadness which crosses my mother’s face when hearing the suspected prognosis. “I should have known,” she says, chiding herself.

“You couldn’t. Rosie’s symptoms are rather extreme, and everyone is different.”

My mom has been quite open about her own endometriosis in the past, and the difficulties she faced in falling pregnant with me. I was a miracle baby she’s said before her stage two endo had resulted in five miscarriages before me. Hence, when I was born, they were too tired to try for another.

A single tear slips over my temple. If what the doctor says is right, the idea of ever having my own babies is just that, an idea.

“Bed rest for at least two days until swelling subsides. If she continues to push herself, next time will be even worse.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

He nods before giving me a small wave. “I’ll see myself out.”

Mom watches him leave while Dad squeezes my hand. “Gave me one hell of a fright there, boo-boo.”

I smile weakly. “Sorry, Dad.”

“How’s your head? You gave it quite the beating on the way down.”

As if on cue, the throb near my temple picks up pace. “It’ll be fine. I’m okay, I promise.”

“Yeah, those very words are what got you here in the first place. Always so stubborn.” He pats my hand. “I’ll go make you some tea.”

I watch him leave, gently closing the door behind him. My mother walks to the bed and takes his place. “I’m sorry I didn’t call the doctor sooner, honey.”

“It’s okay, Mom. You weren’t to know.”

“It could have saved you from the embar—”

“Mom!” I plead, cutting her off. I close my eyes tightly, cheeks flushing because I know the incident will be talk of the whole school.

Rosie Reign bleeds through her skirt on the school bus.

And according to Mom, it wasn’t even just a little bit, something more akin to a years’ worth of period. My skirt, she’d said, can’t be saved.

“Jacob… he…”

Mom nods. “I know. He was leaving the same time I got here and told me everything.”

“Did he tell you he beat up another kid because he was making fun of me on the bus when he saw the bloodstain on my skirt?”

Shaking her head, she smiles in admiration. “No. But he did that for you?”

“Wrapped his Panther’s jacket around my waist first.”

“Ah… I wondered why that was on the bathroom floor.”

“I think I ruined it.”

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