The hand surgeon, unexpectedly hot, reminds me of Nate from Six Feet Under, which I’ve been bingeing for weeks. He adorably complains it’s a boring operation, my cyst will likely grow back, but says he’ll still do it if I want (I want). As he walks me out (so tall!) I’ve already decided to schedule the unnecessary procedure, chasing that elusive thrill of feeling not middle-aged and married, but 17, planning my outfit and hair, never anticipating I’ll have to wear a hideous (vibe-killing) hospital gown and surgical cap. Or that after a painful recovery, it will grow back. Monstrous.
Abby Alten Schwartz is a Pushcart-nominated writer from Philadelphia whose work has appeared in Hippocampus Magazine, HAD, The Citron Review, Brevity Blog, and elsewhere. abbyaltenschwartz.com