Chapter 24: A New Friend (2)
"It is absurd!" Pricilla chuckled. "You understand me! Where is his gratitude?" she helped Felixa sit and continued. "Just the day before I was going to get executed, our Kingdom was attacked by the Brute. In the commotion that ensued, I escaped. I ended up with the Brute’s posse and I am with him for more than five years."
"Are you one of his wives?" Felixa asked.
She had a bitterness rise in her throat. Max was gentle with Pricilla and she sensed Pricilla’s closeness with Max by how she talked about him.
"Wife?" Pricilla shook her head with a chuckle. "No, I am not..." she paused for a moment and Felixa noticed Pricilla getting nervous for a moment. Letting go of the hem of the vest she was holding onto she added, "I am not married." And her smile returning to her face.
Felixa nodded. Understanding that Pricilla doesn’t want to continue this topic, she started asking about improving her health.
Pricilla told her that thankfully, there aren’t very serious implications of her years of abuse except for the scars and the stunted growth. She asked Felixa to start with the diet and some treatments for the scars.
"Can I grow any taller?" Felixa asked. As she observed she is of an average height for a woman around here but she didn’t find it comfortable. Compared to Max she was very short and she wanted to get taller if it is possible.
"There are some damages to your bones due to malnourishment but it can be improved. You could have grown taller if you’ve had proper nourishment and unfortunately after twenty-one, there is no possibility of growing any taller." Pricilla said.
Felixa nodded. It seems like she has to get used to this height.
"Then I’ll take my leave," Pricilla picked up her leather bag.
Felixa watched her leave. She liked this doctor. She has good bedside manners and she achieved something that many women cannot achieve and that made her respect her more.
"Can we have tea sometime?" she asked.