Chapter 8- Dr. Fournier

After some time, a disheveled Dr. Fournier walked out with Isabelle. Erik stood up and noticed Isabelle's hair was also unkempt. Her face flushed and she could not look Erik in the eye. Dr. Fournier appeared to be an older than Erik, a funny looking man with caricature-like features. Erik almost laughed that someone with such a face was a plastic surgeon. But he couldn't laugh because he was too busy fixating on Isabelle, who had clearly just paid his bill with the doctor. Erik gave Isabelle a look which she returned with a sad smile. Erik could not believe she had done that for him.

Dr. Fournier looked at Erik with a clear smile of what had just happened and then quizzically at Erik's hood.

"Well Monsieur…

"Erik, just Erik, please, Monsieur le Doctor."

The doctor stared at him and then ignored Erik's response, "Well, now that… everything is taken care of I'm personally and professionally very interested in… examining your condition. Isabelle here says that you will challenge me; that is splendid, I love a challenge."

Erik felt a little uncomfortable at being treated like a medical experiment but appreciated the impartiality he would bring to his situation. Dr. Fournier beckoned for Erik to follow him into his examining room. Isabelle found his hand as he walked back and squeezed it encouragingly. Erik returned with a half smile not believing all she had done for him these last hours. He would never forget her kindness.

Dr. Fournier's office was Spartan in comparison to his sitting room. Erik felt nervous but sat in the patient chair in front of him while the doctor politely asked him to remove his cloak. Erik slowly took the cloak off and his face was revealed. The doctor did not even flinch. He stared academically at Erik's face and made some small notes on a pad of paper.

He continued to examine Erik's face, poking him and examining the deformity with his finger asking if his actions were painful at all. The doctor then asked Erik to remove his shirt to which Erik responded rather poorly. The doctor calmly replied that he had to give Erik a small examination to determine whether Erik could be a candidate for any kind of surgery. Erik complied and removed his shirt and the doctor listened to his heart, breathing, and seemed to be examining his neck and where the deformity stopped.

After what felt like forever Dr. Fournier told Erik that he could replace his shirt and cloak (if he wished) and then sat down at his desk writing more notes, and pulling books off of his shelves. Erik stood up and straightened him appearance the best that he could while waiting for the doctor's final verdict.
Dr. Fournier finally sat up and glanced over his shoulder at Erik. Erik finally spoke after so much anticipation.

"Look Monsieur, I have lived my entire life as I am and have found ways to… compensate. But after a lifetime of wanting to become more than I am, I must know if it is possible. I do not want to get my hopes up, Monsieur. I only ask you to speak frankly. No more, no less." He dug his nails into the palms of his hands as he waited for the Doctor to respond.
D
r. Fournier stood up and moved his chair closer to where Erik was seated. This was it,

"Welcome Monsieur… Erik. I have never seen such deformities on a healthy, grown man. I fear I must be frank with you most children who were born with such deformities did not make it past their birth. We live in a more accepting society now but I have never seen anything quite like yours. I'm sure as you have seen from Isabelle's face that I am rather brilliant; do not think of me as boastful but rather honest and aware of my abilities. I would tell a patient if I could not take care of his or her particular problem or if that patient did not require my services. You do require my services quite direly in fact and I believe that I could make a difference in your life, of course it does involve some dangers as any surgery does. It's not a decision to be taken lightly."

Erik stood up, "Monsieur I understand the risk involved and I ask that you help me as soon as possible. I believe it to be worth the risk. You have no idea how different my life would be with a face like everyone else…"

"You would be surprised, Monsieur. Every patient I have had experienced siginificant life changes after I operate on them. Look at Isabelle."

Erik flinched slightly at the doctor's mention of Isabelle but ignored it as the doctor looked through his book to give him a date that would be a good time for him to operate,

"Surprisingly enough I do have an opening available tonight, if you want the operation to happen soon. I suppose the sooner you go through it, the sooner you will heal. The only problem will be whether you have somewhere to stay and someone to look after your healing. It will be a difficult journey filled with longs of pain and days when you will wish that you had never had anything done. Do you think you will be able to handle it?"

Erik smiled to himself, after all he had endured? "Yes, sir, I believe I will be fine."

"Good then return to me tonight around 7 'o clock and we will begin. Find a place to live, eat a good meal before hand, and be prompt."

Erik fastened his cloak, "Thank you, Monsieur."

Isabelle sat on a one of the velvet chairs her legs crossed waiting for Erik. She stood up when Erik came out and approached him like a coy little girl. Erik offered her his arm and she took it without question. They left the Doctor's office with hearts fully aware of how Erik's life has just changed.