Chapter 23
One second later, dark liquid began to seep from the cut where the blade had been removed.
Soon thick black fluid slowly flowed from the entire incision.
"I think... I feel relieved."
Eunwoo murmured.
Gain watched the discharge carefully.
The blood was so dark it was almost black, with a deep purplish tint.
It was thick and heavy like syrup reduced over low heat.
Months trapped inside the uterus had oxidized the hemoglobin and changed the color.
Normally, the pain should have become severe enough to reveal the problem much earlier.
This girl had endured all of it alone.
The metallic, sour smell of old blood overtook the Betadine odor in the room.
Gain placed a kidney basin beneath the table and caught the draining fluid.
At the same time, she gently pressed the edges of the incision with sterile gauze to help drainage.
Her other hand rested over Eunwoo's lower abdomen.
"I'm going to press your abdomen slightly. Tell me if it hurts."
"It doesn't hurt."
Gain applied gentle rhythmic pressure, moving the weight of her palm from the uterine fundus toward the pelvic cavity.
"Relax your body."
"Okay."
The pressure inside Eunwoo's previously swollen lower abdomen slowly decreased beneath Gain's palm.
At the same time, a tiny thread of divine power leaked from her fingertips like warm moisture.
"Your hands are so warm... I think the pain is actually disappearing."
Gain used divine power to gently calm the remaining pain and protect the incision edges from inflammation.
Eunwoo simply understood the strange warmth as the doctor's comforting touch.
"Thank you, Doctor."
"Don't talk right now. Just relax."
The first kidney basin filled.
Gain replaced it.
When the second basin was about half full, the fluid changed from nearly black to thin brown.
The consistency slowly became lighter.
The last discharge was almost clear brown fluid.
Soon even that stopped.
Gain gently cleaned the incision with sterile saline gauze.
The mucosa was a healthy pink.
The edges were clean.
This should be enough.
It would be a problem if the opening closed again during healing.
Gain applied a thin layer of water-soluble antibiotic ointment along the incision edges.
Then she placed one sterile pad over the vulva.
"Done."
"...So I've actually been menstruating all this time?"
Jeong Eunwoo murmured.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Do you know how ridiculous I was? I thought I was behind everyone because my first period was so late. I secretly carried pads around so people would think I had periods. I even pretended to have cramps..."
"That's right. You were menstruating. The blood just couldn't come outside because it was trapped."
Gain smiled.
"Here. Use this pad."
"I brought some... Ah. They're in my bag."
"It's okay. I prepared this one for you."
Gain continued.
"You'll have some brown discharge for a while. Change into clean pads often. I'll prescribe antibiotics for one week, so take them on schedule. Come back next week. I only need to check that the incision is healing properly, so it'll take about five minutes."
Eunwoo answered blankly.
"...Okay."
Too much had happened in a single day.
An ambulance.
Her father being called.
A cancer diagnosis.
Then being told she didn't have cancer.
It felt like a dream.
I really don't have cancer.
"Rest well today. You can go back to school tomorrow. Do you want a medical certificate?"
"No. I want to go to school. I have student-council work."
Gain could hear her father pacing outside.
"Should I ask your father to come in?"
After fixing her clothes, Eunwoo nodded lightly.
At the same time, a tear slid down her flushed cheek.
"...Thank you."
The treatment-room door opened.
Her father came inside.
"Eunwoo, did you cry? Did it hurt?"
He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his daughter's cheek.
"I'm okay. They said it's not cancer. It's not..."
Eunwoo wasn't crying anymore.
Her father was.
"I thought I'd lose you too, like Seohyeon... Hngh... Hngh!"
His sob sounded like a bear roaring.
Gain quietly left them alone.
But she understood exactly how the father and daughter felt.
The spring of divine power inside her chest steadily filled.
It grew warmer and warmer until it became almost hot.
I'll give them a little time alone.
Gain moved to the consultation room and entered information for the medical certificate.
Only then did the father and daughter return, supporting each other.
"Doctor, thank you."
The father bowed deeply.
Ninety degrees.
His back remained bent for a long time.
At that moment, Gain's chest gently warmed.
The spring filled more densely.
Now she knew.
She knew where it came from.
Through his grateful gaze and the rising divine power, she could feel just how thankful this man was.
"I only did what I should. Here's your medical certificate. Give this to the school. You could take about a week off if you want..."
"No. I'm the student council president, so I need to go right back. There's a council meeting."
Eunwoo smiled through her tears.
"One day of rest is enough. Thank you."
Then Eunwoo complained with her energy returning.
"That hospital doctor scared me for nothing!"
Her father laughed.
"It's late, Eunwoo. Let's go home and sleep."
"See you again."
Gain smiled.
The two left the clinic.
Gain finally went back to sleep.
Just as I thought.
