"Our time for today is already over. Will someone pick you up or is this good girl here next to you going to guide you home?", the therapist asked. Katrina Knew immediately that she meant Ciri, her assistance dog, who was calmly laying next to her throughout the last hour.
"I'm gonna be picked up.", she answered, "I have another doctor's appointment in half an hour.
"Okay, then. See you again next Wednesday, same time?", the therapist asked, standing up from her chair, walking towards the door.
"Sure. And… thank you.", Katrina said, her blind gaze of her foggy blue eyes looking down towards the floor.
"You will get over it.", Katrina now looked into the direction of the voice, nodding her head slightly, taking the grip of Ciri's harness and walking out of the door.
"Katrina, how was it?", John Watson asked, who sat up from his chair in the waiting room and greeted her by calmly placing his hand on her arm, as he often did in order to signalise her where he was standing.
"I… I think I can't talk about it right now. I am just feeling too exhausted. Let's just get going.", she said and knew that he would understand. It just felt way too difficult and mentally draining for her to wrap up what had happened since the last month after Sherlock's passing. Sure, the therapy was here to help her, but she knew it would take her time to process everything.
"That's alright. Come on, I've ordered a taxi for us, we need to go.", and by saying that, she wrapped her arm around his, giving Ciri the signal to join and went down the stairs with John. The stairway was cold and she was already looking forward to getting inside the taxi. When they went out of the house, the noise of the passing cars almost hurt in her ears. She was used to the traffic inside London, but somehow she felt more sensitive to it not only since she went blind, but even more since Sherlock died. John pulled her inside a taxi, Ciri followed them and he told the driver the address. Katrina sighed, leaning against the soft seat, closing her eyes, letting her get carried away by the humming sound of the car.
"Are taxis actually still black?", she asked, slightly smiling, turning her head to John. She knew he was also feeling miserable after all what happened, he even moved out of Baker Street, because he couldn't handle the pain of being in there without his friend.
He laughed: "Yes, they still are. Did you expect anything else from London? The buses are also still red, just in case you are asking yourself that question as well."
"I am glad to hear that.", she again placed her head back on, using her right hand to softly stroke Ciri, who she felt sitting next to her leg. She was definitely the cutest Labrador in the world and brought so much joy into her life, despite just being a guiding dog. She did a great job comforting her the last month, also sleeping next to her in the bed, softly placing her head on her side, when she started crying.
They arrived at the doctor's place around 20 minutes later. When they left the taxi, she noticed the rain on her skin. Since she became blind, she liked lifting her head towards the sky when it was raining and feeling the little drops of water on her skin. And so she also did now, taking a few seconds to fully take this moment in. She was nervous inside, knowing what was about to happen there in the doctor's office.
"Come on. Are you excited?", John asked, again wrapping his arm around hers and guiding her inside. The building was still new for her, so she took slow steps in the beginning to get a feeling for the space. The cushions on the chairs in the waiting room were soft, in her nose she had the smell of disinfectants now.
"Sorry, they don't have any books or magazines for the blind. Can I read something to you?", John asked. Why was he such a nice person to her? Sherlock did the right thing to accept him into his flat and have him as a partner in his job.
"No, thank you. I am alright.", she answered, smiling at him and patting the chair next to her, "Just sit down next to me."
And so he did. Until they were called in just five minutes later.
"Hello! I am Doctor Grace Yun and I am going to be by your side during this exciting journey!", she heard the friendly voice of a young woman, maybe even around her age, who greeted her. Katrina introduced herself, as well as John.
"Careful, this is going to be a bit cold.", Doctor Yun said, putting some of this weird jelly on Katrina's stomach. Soon after that she felt a tool on her stomach, which the doctor moved up and down.
"So, Dr. Watson - you are the father I assume?", she asked into the direction of her friend.
"No, no. I am just a friend. The father is… well… sadly not available.", he answered, seeming down when he had to say that. Katrina had the feeling that Dr. Yun wanted to say something about this, when suddenly: "Oh! Here it is! The heartbeat!"
Everyone in the small office suddenly became silent, listening to the sound of the baby's heartbeat. And Katrina felt how she was smiling and at the same time having tears in her eyes. How could such a happy moment be so sad? Why was it her who would be a single mother now?
"Can I please have a picture? I mean, I know I am blind, but I would like to show it to my landlady. And I would also like to place it inside my flat.", Katrina explained, wiping away her tears, looking at the direction of the doctor.
"Of course you can! And probably you would also like to have one for the father, right? When he will be available again.", oh, how nosy this doctor was. Well, she probably just wanted to be nice, but it was difficult to handle her inquiries.
"He- he died a month ago. So, just in the very moment I found out about the pregnancy.", and once again, it became silent in the office.
"I am so sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about.", Katrina added immediately, especially when she noticed that John wanted to intervene.
"Okay, so my next appointment will be in four weeks?", she asked, wiping away the jelly on her stomach, pulling her shirt down and taking the handle of Ciri.
"Exactly."
"I am sorry for choosing such an insensitive doctor.", John murmured when they again left the taxi and stood in front of Baker Street.
"Don't worry, really. It is difficult for us both and she couldn't have known."
"Take care of yourself, will you?"
"Sure.", she said, hugging John goodbye and walking inside the flat, up the stairs and letting herself fall onto the sofa.