Nodding to the doctor, Sally stood up and handed Kim a business card. “Here. All of our contact information is on here. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with any of us, anytime.”
Kim turned the card over in her hand. Aside from the professionally printed text that made up Sally’s info, Beth and Jess’s info had been hand-written on the back. Even their handwriting looked gorgeous!
Beth also slipped her a small paper bag. “Just a little welcome present.”
Inside, Kim discovered some homemade cookies, something she had not had in years. “Wow, they smell delicious! Thanks!”
“You’re very welcome,” Beth said, smiling radiantly. Kim shivered at the sheer beauty of that smile. Would she have a face like that soon? It hardly seemed possible.
Once the three mentors had left, the doctor led Kim further into the complex. The place looked very well-equipped. There was a gym, a swimming pool, and what looked like a huge greenhouse off in the distance. Several other buildings proved harder to identify in terms of their purpose. Still, Kim felt sure the doctors here had the resources to deal with anything the virus threw at them. One could only hope.
At last, they reached the residential area composed of multiple apartment buildings. Entering the one reserved for those with humanoid body-types, the doctor let Kim into her room before handing her the key. “Just drop your belongings off here, and feel free to take a good look around. Oh, and go ahead and take a shower. I’ll wait here. When you’re ready, we’ll give you your first checkup.”
While exploring her quarters, Kim noticed that while the furnishings remained mostly familiar, there were some added extras that indicated that a humanoid form still covered a variety of types. Doors closed gently, displaying small signs reading Watch Your Tail! The shower came with a dryer function for those with fur. Next to the phone, a metal sign read, “For non-flammable towels and bedding, call the front desk.”
After freshening up as instructed, Kim exited her room. Outside, she found the doctor checking her phone while sipping a drink she must have gotten while waiting. Seeing Kim, she turned to her with a smile. “Ah, hello again. Ready?”
Kim blinked. For a moment before the doctor had spoken, she saw what she had assumed to be a straw suddenly curl up and withdraw into the woman’s mouth. Without thinking, she blurted out, “Oh, your… uh…tongue thing?”
The doctor laughed. “It’s called a proboscis. I’m a moth, you see.” As Kim watched, a pair of feathery antennae peeked out of her hair. “If I was wearing the proper clothing, I could show you my wings, too. As the saying goes, I’m also a client. Shall we go?”