The Choice

Katie is upset about what happened with her parents. She now seeks information to find out what the best choice is.

Katie walked into the doctor's office. She looked around to see if there was anyone that she knew. When she confirmed that there wasn't, she walked up to the receptionist desk.

 

"Hello, how can I help you?" said the receptionists. She was very cheery and full of life. Her warm and inviting personality made Katie smile despite her emotional state.

 

"Hi, I was hoping to meet with a doctor. I need some medical advisement." Katie looked at the brochures to her right and they were exactly what she was looking for. However, she didn't grab it because she felt like she was being watched.

 

"Okay, let me see if we have any appointments available tomorrow." She started typing away at her computer.

 

"Actually, I was hoping to meet with somebody today. This is kind of urgent." The receptionists looked at her computer with a disappointed look on her face. Katie was afraid that she would say that there wasn't anything available. She needed to do this now. As the receptionists started to say something, a doctor walked out from the back.

 

"Nancy, my eleven o'clock appointment canceled so I am going to be in my office if you need me." The doctor was very professional looking. She wore a white doctor's coat and her hair was up in a bun. She looked exactly like a doctor should look. She briefly made eye contact with Katie and then started talking to Nancy again. "Does she have an appointment?" 

"No, she just walked in asking to seek some medical advisement. But all of the doctor's schedules are full for today." The doctor started looking through the schedules and typed something on the keyboard.

 

“Can I get your name?” said the doctor looking up from the keyboard and looking directly at Katie. Katie felt like the doctor was peering into her very soul.

 

“Umm, it’s Katie. Katie Turner.” The doctor smiled at her and the looked back down at the computer.

 

“Alright, Katie, why don’t you go ahead and have a seat in my office and I will be right with you.” She motioned towards her office and Katie walked inside. She looked around and thought that this must be one of the head doctors in the clinic. Her office was elaborately decorated. There were couches, bookshelves, windows, and a beautiful wooden desk. Katie sat down in the chair in front of the desk and waited patiently for the doctor to arrive.

 

She looked on the doctor’s desk and noticed the pamphlets that were on Nancy’s desk. She glanced to see if the one she had wanted to read was on this shelf. Indeed, it was. She quickly grabbed it and stuffed it in her purse because she heard the door open behind her.

 

“Hi, Katie. My name is Doctor Beth Stephens, but you can just call me Beth if you are comfortable with that.” Beth sat down at her desk and pulled open a manila folder. “So, what can I help you with today?”

 

Katie looked down at her purse. She felt too much shame about what she was here for. She couldn’t believe that this was even something that was going through her mind. “I just need some advice.”

“Okay, Katie. Let’s get some basic information first. How old are you?” Beth started writing in what Katie assumed was her file for the clinic.

 

“I am seventeen years old. And my Birthday is January eleventh.” Katie started to pull the pamphlet out of her purse and in to her lap. She hoped that the doctor couldn’t see it.

 

“So, you will be eighteen in about two months? That should be a lot of fun. Now being that you are seventeen, I can’t really give you any advice without your parents here. Maybe you can make an appointment and have you parents with you.” She looked up at Katie and could see the shame and hurt in Katie’s eyes.

 

“I don’t live with my parents anymore.” Katie looked back down to avoid making eye contact with Beth.

“Then who do you live with now?” Beth closed the folder and moved over to the chair next to Katie.

“I am staying with my boyfriend’s parents now. But I will probably end up leaving there soon.” Katie tried to hide the pamphlet from Beth, but she had already seen it.

“Why don’t we read this pamphlet? Maybe it will give you the advice you need.” Beth turned it over and read the title. “Oh dear. Now I see what the problem is. Do your parents know about it?”

“Yes, that is why I left home.” Katie was keeping her answers brief and was trying not to give out too much information. “If it’s possible can you just give me all the pamphlets you have on the topic and I can just read them on my own.” Katie stood up from the chair preparing to leave this somewhat uncomfortable situation.

“Sure, Katie.” Beth went to her desk and grabbed a number of pamphlets. “Here are all the pamphlets I have. Go ahead and give them a read and if you still need any advice just give me a call. Here is my card so you will know how to get a hold of me.”  She smiled at Katie. Katie could tell she was just trying to help her, but she felt so ashamed of everything. Her parents had made her feel like such a disgrace. She didn't want to feel like this anymore."

"Thank you. I appreciate your help.” Katie exited Beth’s office and left the clinic. She walked to the nearest coffee shop so she could sit and process all of these thoughts and emotions.

She pulled her phone out and dialed Ray’s number. Before she dialed the number, she turned off her phone and set it down. This was a choice she was going to make on her own. 

Author's Note

Here is the next chapter. Hope you all enjoy. Please review and leave any comments or suggestions for next chapters or things to make this chapter better.