Page 16 of Daddy Erik
“I’m now checking beneath the breast fold.” Her fingers glide along the infra-mammary crease.
“No lymphatic swelling.” She sits back slightly.
“I’m going to repeat everything on the right side.”
The process is identical. Methodical. Complete. She presses deeper near my underarm this time.
“I’m palpating the axillary lymph nodes. We check these during any full breast exam. No enlargement. Excellent.”
I exhale slowly without realizing I’ve been holding my breath. When she finishes, she removes her gloves and speaks gently.
“You have well-developed glandular architecture,” she explains. “Your tissue density suggests you may respond quickly to hormonal induction and stimulation protocols. Some women require months to see measurable output. I suspect your body will adapt faster.”
I sit up slowly, my chest still tingling faintly from the exam. There was nothing inappropriate about what she did. Nothing invasive beyond what I consented to.
She told me everything. Every movement. Every reason. Every finding.
I felt seen. I felt respected. And I didn’t realize until that moment how much that mattered in a medical setting.
Erik doesn’t react outwardly,but a wave of intensity shifts through him, quiet, protective, sharpened.
Dr. Madsen hands me a thick packet.
“This is your protocol.”
I skim it.
• Prescribed medicine
• Two herbal supplements
• Massage schedule
• Hydration reminders
• Pumping every 3 hours
“Early sensations may include tingling, warmth, and heaviness,” she continues. “Drops of colostrum can appear earlier than expected in fast responders like you.”
Warmth spreads in my chest at the possibility.
She turns to Erik. “Your role is supportive.”
“I understand,” he says immediately. And I can tell he does.
“Good. I’ll see you both in two weeks.”
ERIK
Outside, the fog has thinned into weak sunlight. Claire clutches the packet like it’s both treasure and responsibility.
“That went better than you expected?” I ask.
Her smile is small but real. “Yes. She was kind. And… you were amazing.”
Amazing. I don't usually use the word "amazing" to describe myself. But with Claire, something shifts. She studies me with that tilt of her head that strips my armor.
“Why do you want this?” she asks softly.
