Doctor Jones looked friendly, but she spoke in a condescending manner, and this immediately irritated me.
"And how often do we have stomach pains, dear?"
"It all depends on the diet. If I follow all the restrictions, then it happens rarely," I answered carefully and thoroughly.
"But sometimes we are drawn to sweets, right?"
Jones's smile became wide and cloying. I shrugged my shoulders with feigned regret.
"Of course, sometimes I break the diet, I try some candies, chocolates, sometimes cookies. Especially when colleagues share something, I feel awkward refusing. Some time ago, I ate strictly according to all the rules, but pain and digestive problems still arose. If strict adherence to the restrictions would completely cure me, I would not have come here today."
"I understand," the doctor spoke in a serious businesslike tone. "Well, I am very glad you visited, dear Camilla. You meet all the criteria. Tell me, are you ready to change your life?"
"I have been waiting for this opportunity for many years!" I exclaimed sincerely. It was the pure truth. Since childhood, I suffered from digestive problems, refused various sweets and other delicious things. I went to doctors, tried medications, therapy, diets, exercises. No method gave significant improvements, something only helped for a short time, something only worsened the situation.
It was not surprising that the advertisement for the new treatment caught my attention immediately: "We are able to cure any gastrointestinal disorders!" Although the advertisement seemed too pretentious to me, I felt the forgotten hope of finally becoming a normal, ordinary, healthy person. Although I had lost any illusions, but here, in this medical center, for some reason I began to hope again.
Doctor Jones said ingratiatingly:
"I have to warn you about the consequences."
Well, that's what I thought. Now this nice woman will say that the treatment doesn't help everyone, not always, or not for long, or you need to eat only special food, three grams a day. I've been through all this before.
"You see, our treatment method is new and experimental, so for now it has some side effects. Each patient has a strictly individual one."
"But can you guarantee that I'll get better?"
Having asked this question, I realized how stupid it sounded. No one can give such guarantees. However, this time I was wrong. The doctor answered confidently and clearly: "Your digestion will become perfect, there is no doubt about it. This effect is not related to your body at all. It is difficult to explain... Maybe we should start? Or are you afraid?"
I remembered the long years of pain and digestion problems, the tempting cakes in the pastry shop across from the office, the endless holidays and parties where I felt like an outcast, doomed to stay away from the set table.
"No, I'm ready. Let's begin".
***
The process of the new treatment was simple. They sat me down in a chair, scanned my entire body, then turned on special equipment. I expected heat, cold, pain, tingling, anything, but there were no sensations. Half an hour later, doctor Jones reported that the procedure was complete. For the changes to take effect, a reboot of the body was required, that is, a long sleep.
In the morning I woke up with mixed feelings. I was simultaneously anticipating a miracle and afraid of disappointment. But the changes were immediately present.
Every day I woke up either from a stomach ache or with a feeling of disgust for any food. However, today everything was different. The feeling of hunger made me hastily open the refrigerator. But there was only a lonely pot of vegetable soup. Having heated up the soup, I ate in one sitting such an amount of food that I used to stretch out over the whole day.
I got dressed and went to the store for supplies. But there I was attacked by the usual fears. Looking at the products, I mentally rejected those that were too fatty, salty, sweet, spicy, harmful etc. And then I filled a cart with all this food, trying not to give in to fear.
At home, I cooked myself a luxurious dinner and slowly savored it, enjoying every bite. My body accepted the food with delight and without the slightest objection. For dessert, I bought a cupcake with custard cream and dark chocolate. It was a real celebration of taste!
My feast was interrupted by the patter of feet in the bedroom. But I lived alone, without pets. My legs buckled from horror, I reached the door with difficulty and quietly opened it.
On the bed sat a red creature with pointed ears and a furry round body. It was sitting in a nest of pillows and was engrossed in examining my blanket. Where did it come from? I had never seen anything like it before, but at the same time the image of the creature seemed familiar. Maybe I had such a plush toy as a child?
While I stood there dumbfounded, the guest turned around. Its round face had wide eyes and a strange mouth with nine sharp teeth. Grinning, the creature said:
"Hello!"
"Are you able to speak??"
Did the unfamiliar food suddenly make me hallucinate? Was it really the excess fat and sugar that had affected me?
"Don't be afraid," the creature's gaze became mischievous. After a long pause I nervily introduced myself:
"Hello, my name is Camilla. And who are you?"
"I'm a side effect of your treatment," came the unexpected answer.
"That takes the cake! Is that what the doctor was talking about? Does a toy live in each patient's home? Or are you not a toy, but just a hallucination?"
"People are all different, so the final product of the treatment depends on the specific characteristics of the person who underwent the procedure. But the test subject and the result of the test are linked, so it is my duty to be near you."
Now the tone and manner of speaking reminded me of doctor Jones. Maybe she was watching me with the help of an uninvited guest? But I did not ask about this, it would not tell the truth anyway.
"Will you follow me?"
"Of course not. To maintain contact, we just need to spend the night in the same room."
"So, during the day I can do whatever I want, the main thing is that I must spend the night at home, with you... What should I call you? Do you have a name?"
"We have no names. You can call me whatever you want, if you want."
"So, it should be simple name. You are my side effect, my by-effect. Camilla`s by-effect. Cabu? No, it is too short. Okay, I will call you Ca-bu-bu," I decided.
Ca-bu-bu nodded, jumped off the bed and went to the kitchen, comically jumping on short legs.
"Are you hungry?"
"Of course not. I don't need food, sleep or walks, I am not a pet. But thank you anyway."
***
That's how Ca-bu-bu, a by-product of my treatment, settled in my apartment. I soon realized that only I could see and hear it. For my parents and friends, Ca-bu-bu remained invisible and inaudible. And a week later, I clearly realized that the furry creature was getting on my nerves, its voice, the color of fur, very presence of it caused bouts of moral nausea. However, I noticed an interesting pattern. The more I ate a variety of unhealthy foods, the more disgusting the color Ca-bu-bu had. To test the theory, I ate the right, familiar food for a whole day. My body had become unaccustomed to such a dull diet, but I endured. The next morning, Ca-bu-bu looked much better and more cheerful.
I celebrated my discovery with a dinner full of fats and sweets. My renewed digestion coped with the task with ease. But the furry creature turned into a disgusting ball of a vile color. The sight of it made me feel sick.
I tried to change tactics, leaving the house early in the morning and returning late in the evening. At home, I only slept, changed clothes and took a shower. However, this method did not work. Seeing the disgusting creature in the morning, even for a minute, made me feel irritated all day. My digestion remained excellent, I enjoyed the variety of food and excellent health, but Ca-bu-bu spoiled all the joy. Sometimes I had to stick to my usual diet to briefly return its pleasant appearance.
Ca-bu-bu did not comment on my actions. After our first conversation, it was silent, wandered around the apartment, sat by the window and behaved like an unpretentious pet. For some reason, this irritated me the most. Later, I realized something interesting and called doctor Jones:
"Do you understand that nothing has changed? Before your treatment, I was irritated by stomach pains and food restrictions. Now I experience exactly the same negative emotions, only for a different reason! You imposed on me a creature that drives me crazy!"
The doctor listened patiently and answered in a calm but tired voice:
"I understand your dissatisfaction. But I warned you that the side effect is inevitable. Is there anything that doesn't suit you? You can eat any food without restrictions, your health has become perfect, your standard of living has definitely improved. What's the problem?"
Jones`s words cooled my ardor. I got exactly what I asked for. But then Ca-bu-bu came in my room, and all reasonable arguments were replaced by anger.
"This disgusting plush toy gets on my nerves! It's disgusting to look at! Why should I endure it? I want to live without any side effects!"
"But we didn't promise you peace and the absence of negative emotions. Our clinic gave you relief from health problems that have tormented you for many years. We did it absolutely free of charge. But we are not omnipotent. You are used to feeling anger and irritation, we cannot fix it. Our technology only treats the body. Before, you were annoyed by the pain, now you are annoyed by the side effect. The balance has been preserved. But I want to warn you that the treatment is irreversible. Your digestion will be perfect forever, and the effect will remain with you forever. Resign yourself."
"No way!"
***
The first thing I did was go to the shopping center, where I bought a bunch of stuff. Then I started to implement my plan. While Ca-bu-bu was looking out the window, I snuck up behind it and hit it with a hammer. But the nasty creature didn't even flinch! No tools could leave even a trace on the vile fur.
"Camilla, what are you doing? If you're trying to end my existence, then you're wasting your time," the creature said in a melancholic tone. Baring all nine teeth, it looked at me with sympathy and condescension. I didn't answer. I wouldn't give up anyway.
The next stage included household chemicals, medications, herbals and essential oils. As a result, I found that Ca-bu-bu was indifferent to strong odors and caustic substances. But I had to wash and air out the entire apartment.
Then I tried the last option and made a heroic effort. For a whole week I ate only fast food, cakes and soda. Although I was very scared, my perfect digestion coped with the task.
But Ca-bu-bu went bald, its wide eyes were covered with a gray film, pointed ears drooped sadly.
Suddenly I felt a sharp sense of guilt. Before, I myself was tormented, now I decided to torment an innocent creature. After all, it was my own fault. Doctor Jones was right, I was used to living with a constant feeling of irritation. I received a wonderful gift, but I have not yet learned to enjoy it to the fullest. I am much more accustomed to being angry and unhappy. But is Ca-bu-bu to blame for this? It did nothing bad. It was a part of me!
For the first time, I felt that there was a strong, unbreakable connection between us. As long as I live, Ca-bu-bu will also live next to me. Is this a high price to pay for getting rid of pain and for the opportunity to finally eat whatever I want? Of course not. I should not have been so cruel and justified myself with psychological trauma. Luckily, I have the opportunity to fix everything.
The next day, I ate only healthy food. For the first time in a long time, I did not want any surfeit. Ca-bu-bu began to look better by the evening. This inspired me very much.
After three days, Ca-bu-bu again acquired its usual appearance. Wide eyes sparkled with mischief, a round body was furry, pointed ears rose.
I approached the creature, hugged it and sincerely said:
"Forgive me, Ca-bu-bu! Honestly, I will not do this again!"
"Thank you, Camilla. Don't be afraid, the situation is not as dramatic as you think. You will not have to eat porridge and vegetable soup all your life. Just observe moderation in everything, that will be enough."
Previously, the lack of choice irritated me most of all. Digestive problems forced me to choose a limited set of products, which I had long been tired of. Now I could eat anything, any food. But now I realized that reasonable restrictions are beneficial. When the body is healthy, when there is real choice, life is much simpler. So I will be able to eat evenly, without surfeit. After all, only forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest. Thanks to the new method of treatment, nothing was forbidden for me anymore. So I will eat everything within bounds. And I absolutely will be grateful for this amazing gift of healing for the rest of my life!