Melanie - This time I'll actually be cut open

Having had just "survived" her first surgery, Melanie can't catch a break.

Really having her retina operated wasn't too bad. Since they did knock her out for it and she had to dress all silly in a cap and gown, getting hooked up to a monitor, she certainly got to know the feeling of having surgery.

Still though, this was a short and simple out patient procedure. Enter and leave the hospital in her uniform after school, all in the same day.

However, as she would find out directly, not even a year later, surgery can feel very different depending on what you are getting.

She had checked her watch when she was operated on. About 30 minutes not much more time had actually passed between the times she was able to look at it. And in that time, she had been asleep and operated on. It really couldn't have been such a big deal if they had done everything in those handful of minutes.

With this little reference point in mind, she did end up asking her doctor how long it might be this time around. Two to three hours. The answer came swiftly and casually.

But Melanie took a moment to process what that would mean.

Two to three ... she ended up not being sure what that referred to exactly. It wouldn't just be the time between her being able to read the time of her watch, but also the days she'd have to spend in the hospital. After a successful procedure that is.

The day of surgery already started off substantially different right away. No school, straight to the hospital, since she had to be there by 7 am already. It was the middle of the week, but that really didn't matter since she had already been put on a multi-week sick leave from school.

Upon arrival she was given a bed in a 6 bed-room, further driving home the fact that she'd have to sleep here and not just once. A nurse instructed her to change into a already familiar gown, just with her this time being clear about one extra thing. Bra AND panties off. At least they were really nice and supportive...

Ultimately it wouldn't be until 4 pm when a nurse suddenly entered the room to take Melanie into surgery. The wait had only made her anxiety worse. And not she finds herself not on her own two feet, but being wheeled down hallways on a bed, already out of control where she was going and how fast.

She wanted to look at her watch again, but this time, the nurse forced her to take it off before even leaving her room.

And so was it, that way too soon now she found herself on this strange, narrow, rubber slab again.

The fact she was explicitly told to remove her underwear already foreshadowed it, but didn't dampen the impact of her gown being stripped from her as soon as she had changed beds. The nurse's hands were so trained in this, that before Melanie could even blink, she was lying there with her whole body exposed.

From now on two women were caring for her. Emily, a girl who must have been in her 20s still and was caring, covered her with a thin sheet. But not before putting a set of ECG stickers on the exposed chest.

An older lady, probably 50s she recognized from her brief appointment with her. The anesthesiologist Dr. Higashi. Not much talking was done as both went through their routines.

Melanie was strapped down tight, naked and wired up with all sorts of things and in a much bigger room, before the first moment of calm, where Emily asked her if she was nervous.

Melanie: "Being totally honest... Yeah. More so than last time, if that makes sense..."

Emily: "You had eye surgery, I read. That can be a lot different, so I totally understand. But actually... You will experience the same kind of sleep. From now on it's over faster than you'd think.

Emily: "Do you remember getting a sleeping shot last time?"

Melanie: "Uhh I'm not suuure. I don't think I do. I only remember getting a mask on but I must have fallen asleep right after."

Emily: *chuckles* "Well, the doctor is about to give you the sleepy shot again. Maybe you'll remember it this time. Just relax and dream of something you wanna do on your days off, yeah? You'll be out of her in less than a minute."

Melanie: "A-Alright." *Inhales*

. . .

Beep Beep Beep ...

Dr. Higashi: " I'll knock out the next lady over. Girl has beautiful vitals, anesthesia is still deepening, on 3 halothane, yeah? You take outstanding care of her. But that's how I know you, Emily. "

Emily: " Sure thing, doctor. Thank you.~ "

Emily: " Alright Melanie. Now it's just us two cuties.~ I think the halothane got you all cozied up, so I'll turn that back a bit now. Then you get some more fenta so the doctor can make the big cut, yeah? ... Gosh you're soft, girl~ hehe. "

. . .

Emily: "Hey Melanie.~ They just opened you up. No one home, huh? Perfect. Pupils nice and pinned, no reaction at all. Looking good.~"

Emily: " Pupils nice and pinned, no reaction at all. Looking like we can keep going.~"

Emily: " Let's close those pretty lashes again and tape em’ up. Good night."

. . .

Melanie wouldn't consciously open her eyes. One moment she simply realized she was in a different bed inside a different room.

Her thoughts were fractured. And pieces clearly missing everywhere, when she remembered herself looking at the clock on the wall. It had become 10 pm.

She was tired.