Afraid I would snatch it from her, she drank it all in one gulp.
"Patrick, I feel so full of energy."
That was truly a miracle medicine.
Since they didn't appreciate my kindness, I left them alone. I sneaked out of the house.
These past few days at home, my breast pain had gotten worse, to the point where I couldn't even touch it.
I went to the county hospital to register while avoiding my father, only one male doctor on duty today.
I hesitated for a moment, but still walked in. I was afraid if I had no confidence, my father's network would come into play soon.
The doctor, Felix Young, was about my father's age. He pulled up the curtain and did a check up on me, but I sensed something was amiss.
I didn't remember this happening during previous gynecological examination. And he was pressing on for a bit too long.
When I reached my limit, he stopped. He prescribed some medicine and I took it and left.
On the way home, the more I thought about it, the more it sensed amiss.
I felt like I was being taken advantage of.
I ran into a middle-aged woman from the village, Kate Sauer, and she started yelling at me the moment she saw me.
"Patricia, did you go to the hospital to check on your breasts today?"
I was startled and instinctively denied it.
"No, I didn't."
She approached me, whispering.
"The doctor you saw today is a friend of your dad's. He was on the loud speaker when he answered the phone outside."
"He said your breasts are soft to the touch and never been touched by another man. There's even a red mole on them."
"However, his reputation is not good. I heard everyone who go to see him have complaints and grievances against him, but since he is senior, the hospital tolerates it."
I couldn't hear anything now.
My father's friend?
Kate was a gossip. If she knew something, the whole village would know too.
Was it okay to talk about something like this in public?
I didn't know how I got home.
Patrick sat on the sofa, looking at me smugly.
"It's still me, had the foresight to have someone keep an eye on you at the hospital a long time ago."
"How was it? Did Dr. Young check on you thoroughly? If I hadn't warned him, he would have just prescribed you some medicine."
"He even knew if any man had touched your breasts. He's truly an expert."
Patrick didn't think he had done anything wrong. It drove me crazy.
He was my father, why did he always hurt my feelings? Harm me?
I pointed to my breast and said, "Don't you know his reputation? He's clearly taking advantage of me!"
I hadn't remembered it before, but after Kate told me, I remembered it.
Felix had exploited his position to harass female patients. Since his family had some money, the matter was left unresolved, but it was quite a big deal at the time and I heard about it.
I wondered how a routine examination made me feel uncomfortable, even his handprint still remained.
"No way. He's a man of well manner. You must have misunderstood," he said firmly.
Luigi looked at me impatiently.
"What's worth touching you? With such small breasts, you don't even look like a normal woman. Stop being so rude. You've already made a scene since you came back."
"So what if others find out? We're all family and they won't tell anyone."
No one believed me, no one understood me.
Because my father's friends had actually helped the family a few times before, they assumed they were all reliable.
In a fit of rage, I smashed everything in sight.
"I told you I can see a doctor myself, I don't need your connections. Why don't you understand? Why?"
I had been so careful, but still why should I go through such a thing?
Patrick looked at me, at a loss.
"My friends are so nice! They even waived my registration fee when I went to the doctor. Why so sentimental? Sooner or later, you're going to get touched by a man."
Eleanor stood up for her son.
Luigi slapped me and kicked me. I knelt on the ground in pain, sweating profusely.
"Stop screaming! You know how hard it is to have connections in the hospital? If you give up, I'll beat you to death."
Luigi glanced at me a few times.
"Dr. Young, why are you here?"
My father's flattering voice echoed.
"I still have some doubts about your daughter's illness, I need to check on her again. It's better to take her naked. Where's she?"
"Get her out!" urged Luigi.
I struggled violently.
With a quick reaction, Luigi pinned me down, while Eleanor lifted up my shirt.
"Dr. Young, thank you for your help. You must get her treated properly before it becomes a serious illness," as she spoke, my bra buttons came unbuttoned.
