An absurd reality

She left the doctor’s office and walked to her car in the hospital car park. Angela looked up at the glorious sun, the blue skies patched with puffy white clouds. Beep Beep unlocked the door and she sat in the seat for a while, contemplating on the absurd coincidence of her diagnosis. Her hands on the steering wheel, she leaned her head on her hands contemplating.  Suddenly, she burst out laughing so much, her shoulders shook.   A young girl saw her, walking to their SUV next to her old pocked Echo. The girl tugged on her mother`s sleeve, “Look, Mommy, the lady is laughing all alone and she isn’t even talking on her cell phone!” Angela heard the child and let out a soft groan, embarrassed at her public display of emotions.

She drove out of the lot. “May as well just face it, Angela! You don’t want to accept it but three rheumatologists have come up with the same results. Fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, knees and C5 & C6,” she laughed again out loud,  “You just completed your thesis on the stigma attached to chronic illnesses that are invisible like mental illness and chronic pain.” How ironic was that? She really did hate this prognosis because of the stigma associated with it made her look weak, like a whiner. No one could see her pain; no one understood what she had to endure. There were no bruises, she did not wear a brace, walk with a walker (yet) or cane. Nope she would just have to deal with it and pace herself at work. Her insurance would never accept she work part-time…they just did not recognize this condition. What she found most difficult was hiding her condition to most people, colleagues, most friends and especially family. Only a few close friends understood.
She arrived at the bus terminal just in time to catch the bus to get to her late shift.

© Cheryl-Lynn 2014/05/18

Submitted for: Three Word Wednesday prompt, May 14, 2014 {Words: Absurd, Groan, Weak}