Kafran grips her chin and tips her head back. “What did we say about talking negatively about yourself?”
Mercy sniffles. “Sorry, Papi.”
“You’re exactly perfect just the way you are. Do you understand me?”
She doesn’t respond.
I bend and kiss her lips. “We’ll tell you every day until you believe us, Baby girl. Look at yourself between Kafran and me. Look how tiny you are. You’re like a little doll. No part of you is anything but gorgeous. It will take some time, but we’ll erase all the cruel things you’ve been told by reminding you how pretty you are.”
“Okay, Papi,” she murmurs.
“Now, be a good girl and let go of Kafran’s arm. You need to let Dankin examine you.”
“Yes, Sir.” She releases her death grip on Kafran and faces Dankin. She’s trembling, but at least she’s obeying.
Dankin sits on a rolling chair in front of her. “I know our customs are strange at first, but you’ll get used to them, Little one. I promise. Eleadians take the health of their mates very seriously. Your Papis will be diligent about bringing you to the clinic in your neighborhood regularly, far more often than you’re used to on Earth. In addition, when we examine Little girls, our methods are a bit more invasive than you’re accustomed to.”
She bites her bottom lip as she listens to him.
I point toward her feet. “She was barefoot when she entered the club. She’d been running down the street. We gave her a bath, washed away the dirt, and cleaned up the small cuts,but we’d appreciate it if you’d make sure we don’t need to put healing cream on the wounds.”
Dankin scoots his rolling stool back a few inches and lifts up Mercy’s feet. “Ouch. Do they hurt, Little one?”
Mercy shrugs. “I haven’t touched the floor since Skarg and Kafran found me. I forgot my feet were even injured.”
“Your Papis did a good job cleaning the little cuts. Nothing major. I’ll put some ointment on them, but you won’t even know it happened by the time you arrive on Eleadia.” He’s very gentle as he spreads the healing cream on the bottoms of her feet. “Now, let’s make sure the rest of you is healthy. Do we have any concerns?”
Chapter Seven
Mercy
This is the most surreal experience of my life. I feel like I’m floating out of myself. I’ve spent most of my life hiding my body from view. I’ve always been chubby. My grandmother was the only person who thought I was beautiful just the way I am. She used to say that God made me this size, and I should embrace it. We aren’t all born with the same metabolism. I could either accept that I’m not tall and model skinny or spend my life fighting a losing battle to please other people.
Lord knows I’m healthy. My mother-in-law saw to it that I was served meals that kept me on a strict diet. I’m not a picky eater, so I didn’t mind fresh vegetables and fruits, but dieting has never caused me to lose weight.
A few years ago, I started referring to my mother-in-law in my head as “That Bitch.” All she ever did was nag and complain. I rarely came out of my suite of rooms so I wouldn’t have to face her. And I certainly didn’t want to face Fredrick. It was easier to sequester myself.
The problem was That Bitch was constantly accusing me of sneaking food. She also blamed her staff for smuggling treats in to me. It wasn’t true. Yes, I sometimes got my hands on something tasty, but for the most part, I’m living proof that dieting doesn’t work for everyone, and eating healthy doesn’t equal being skinny.
Skarg threads his fingers with mine at my side. “Mercy has been verbally abused for years. She has body image issues as a result.”
The doctor frowns. “Humans are so cruel,” he mutters.
I manage a small chuckle. If he even knew the half of it.
Somehow I manage to sit still while Dankin goes through the normal routine of a well-woman checkup, looking in my eyes, nose, ears, and throat. I grit my teeth as he moves his stethoscope around my chest.
He doesn’t make a comment about my weight. That’s new. Most doctors tell me right off the bat that I need to lose some pounds. Though it’s possible my mother-in-law put them up to saying that to me. After all, she’s the one who always brought doctors to me. I never went to them.
I hope I can shake memories of That Bitch from my head soon. I’d hate to spend decades letting her take up real estate.
“Help her lie back for me,” Dankin says. “Have you used restraints on her yet?”
Kafran nods. “Yes. We strapped her wrists to the sides of the basin when we bathed her, but we’ve also held her down several times.”
“Does she experience a physical reaction to either or both?”
“Yes,” Skarg adds. “Both.”
