The next morning, Jen woke up with a groan, and a strange gurgling sound in her throat. Leaning up away from her pillow, she coughed a few times in an attempt to clear it, forcing up a glob of...something. Rushing to the bathroom, she didn't notice the wet spot on her pillow, near where her mouth was...
Once in the bathroom, and having spit up a large, clear glob of what seemed like spit, Jen did her business and took stock of herself. The hairs had returned, just like every morning, though today there was something different about her neck. Poking it a bit, it was definitely thicker, but the skin around her chin had started to bunch up...like there was too much of it. Rubbing the area, that was indeed what it seemed like, as the skin moved and stretched a little bit.
Things were starting to look bad for the once gorgeous captain of the cheer squad....she didn't want to believe she had this new disfiguring disease...but signs were all pointing in that direction.
In an hour or so, Jen got into the car with her mother for her follow up appointment, the ride making her nervous about what the Doc would say. For the first time in many years, Jennifer was truly nervous, and it showed in the waiting room. Other patients kept looking in her direction and whispering, causing her to try and turn this way or that to avoid their gaze. Try as she might though....she....couldn't hate what was apparently happening.
After an couple hours of tests and questions, the Doctor came back with a sullen expression. "It is unfortunate that I have to tell you this Ms. Smith....but it appears as though you have somehow contracted CDS. We don't know how or why, and there is effectively no treatment, as it's such a new disease. The best I can do is prescribe any pain medication for what you might experience. Another option is for me to recommend you to a higher physician...one with more equipment and funding, to see if they can help you. Whatever you decide to do, I'd also like to make a request that you report and document any and all changes and experiences....for further development and understanding of course. You don't have to, if you're not comfortable, but it may help develop a cure, or just be reassurance for anyone else who gets it."