The Chill

The chill runs down my spine. The ache in my feet grows, from the cold. My loafers sit upon a table at the other end of the room. I see them out of the corner of my eye, next to them hangs my best suit, and a hideous red tie. The walls are white and plain like a doctors office, which of course makes sense.
The man who works on me is old, his face is lined from years of worry and neglect. His hair is silver with wisps of white, his breath is a mixture of coffee and cheap cigarette's, I'm forced to smell the stench as he works on me. Once I'm up and around again I shall tell him of his need for a mint. He whistles some obscure tune as he works. The cold seems to permeate everything, it chills me to the bone.

Why doesn't he cover me with a sheet, I can see that he has some, they sit folded neatly on the white table beside me.

I feel the prick as a needle leaves my skin, the drugs must be wearing off. The old man stands abruptly and says in a thin soft voice. “Your Done!” He removes a smoke from his shirt pocket, I hope he doesn't light it here. He should know how bad it is for you. It caused my first heart attack, it took a second one for me to give them up.. damn there he goes puffing away.

As soon as this local wears off and I'm able to speak, he's getting a ear full. I may even call the medical... He has my watch, what is he doing with my watch. That was my fathers. I suppose he needed to remove it before surgery. He puts it back on my wrist, ok false alarm.

My eyelids feel heavy, I think Ill sleep a bit. Perhaps when I wake I'll be in recovery. The light is getting duller as my eyelids feel like lead....

How long have I been asleep, I attempt to say. I hear no words. Perhaps the drugs have yet to wear off. The cold seems less intense, wait I can't move my head. I could before, no I could only move my eyes. I wonder if this effect will last for sometime. I can see that I'm dressed now, in my new black suit and that ugly red tie. There is a light over my head it hurts my eyes.

This is unlike any operation I've ever had before. But with these new HMO's what can I expect. I will wait for the nurse who will see that I'm awake. Someone is coming there footfalls I can hear. I see the old man, the doctor. He now wears a dark blue suit. I don't care what he says I'm reporting him, for smoking in front of a heart...Wait Leah is with him, she is in that lovely black dress she bought when her mother died. She looks lovely although I know she's cried. It's ok honey the surgery went fine. I want to tell her that but these drugs keep me silent damn those HMO'S. She banters with the doctor, I wonder if she knows! She says how nice I look and how sad she has been? He seems to be comforting her in... this her time of... lose? I glance at the surroundings and see a velvet top, I hear ava maria, and smell fresh cut flowers... FUCK I'M DEAD!