Temperance noted the young girl’s response. A good sign that she was lucid enough to understand, and answer, that should prove helpful during the examination. With the father’s help, Temperance moved her to the bed ensuring she was settled in before moving away to push the wheelchair aside. Once the chair was out of the way, Temperance washed her hands in a basin of water located near the bed, scrubbing away imagined filth with such vigor that she left the skin pink. Her attention returned to the father as he spoke, drying her hands on a clean towel.

Poor girl, she thought to herself as he explained the ordeal she had gone through not long ago. With furrowed brows, she pondered over the possibility of the event being the catalyst for today. “It’s a possibility. It might not be the reason for what is happening, but it could have contributed. As a child, how was her health?” she questioned, moving on to pulling on white sleeves over her arms they fitted from her wrists to her elbows.

Returning to the bedside, she brought with her a cart with an array of tools. “I will need to examine her. You are free to stay, I only ask that you sit on the other side of the privacy screen.” She pointed towards the screen at the foot of the bed, behind it was a chair. “Or you can wait in the waiting area if you prefer.” She noticed the way he held the girl’s hand. He seemed like a good father, at least caring enough to let it show.