Incognito

You could say I have been on a mission, lately. A mission to keep my private life... well... private from the individuals I work with. For the most part, this mission just requires my vague answers to personal questions and generally keeping my mouth shut at work. And typically it works quite well and is pretty easily done. However today was a different story.

I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for today as a followup to my surgery from two weeks ago. As I was finishing up a few things at work and getting ready to go, the pregnant woman I work with headed out the door. She was apparently headed to the doctor at the same time as me. And what is more, she was headed to the same doctor as me.

Well, this was a bit of a problem for me, since I had been trying keep my coworkers in the dark about the nature of my surgery, and seeing the preggo one at the OBGYN's office was not the best way to do that.

I drove to the doctor contemplating how I could manage to avoid seeing her there. I even considered skipping out on the appointment, but rescinded after remembering the list of questions I had brought with me for the doctor.

Her car was parked right out front, so I parked around the corner in the employee parking section. Before I headed in, I slipped on a jacket and a pair of sunglasses I keep in my car. Then I threw my hair in a messy bun and checked my reflection in the mirror.

Oh yeah. Really good. Now I just look like a sloppier version of myself...

But there was not much I could do, so I tentatively approached the doors. I had arrived just late enough that she was not in the waiting room anymore. I quietly said my name to the receptionist, who had to lean forward to hear me. Then I went to the furthest corner of the room and grabbed some reading material to hold up in front of my face.

At this point I should probably mention that since it was an OBGYN office, the reading material was a book of baby pictures. Yeah. Just what I needed.

Keeping my sunglasses on, I periodically peeked over the top of the book, keeping a wary eye out for said coworker. The nurse called me back and we slipped into the little alcove where they weigh you and take your vitals. I heard someone coming around the corner, so I casually put my hand up and ducked my head to shield my face from view. A pair of scrub pants walked past the alcove. I let out the breath I had been holding. The nurse that was sitting with me gave me a quizzical look and told me to relax, as I had disrupted the blood pressure screening. She ran it again as I looked around nervously. Finally, she said she would take me to an exam room, and proceeded to lead me down the longest hall ever made. As we were almost to the end, the door in front of me opened up and I heard the doctor ushering his patient out the door. She was turned to face him with her back to me as he gave her instructions on when her next appointment should be. I was almost to the door they were coming out of when she turned around and came face to face with me.

And then I died.

Because it wasn't her, it was just someone with the same colored jacket as her.

And she walked past me with that barely contained enthusiastic smile that newly pregnant women always have.

I walked into the exam room at the end of the hall and the nurse shut the door behind me. I sat next to the door, and a few moments later, heard the voice of the woman I work with as she walked down the hall.

I had barely made it.

So the doctor came in and did his thing and I asked a brazillion and one questions and then headed out the door. Her car was gone, and I was completely relieved. The referee in my mind yelled "Safe" as he waved his arms in front of me.