Blue Hole

"The cancers gone," the doctor said. " The surgery went well" his words brought dread. His voice trailed off, " My team did their best," I stop listening and brought my hand to my chest. How long I was in surgery is anyone's guess, and I know what I needed then was rest. My body disfigured, wrapped tight with gauze- did he want an ovation? A round of applause? " Thank you doctor." I muttered through dry cracked lips. I felt my chest and longed for the curves and dips. Instead of a breast, was God knows what. Two days went by, the needed to examine the cut. I could not look. Tears streamed my face as the nurses unwrapped me, the gauze replaced. It took about a week before I had the guts to stand before a mirror and examine the cuts. One breast remained, but the bandage unfolded, through the mirror my eyes met a gaping blue hole. Feeling faint , calling nurses to help me wrap- I had to put all the bandages back. The nurse said " Be grateful, your surgeon will get your chest on track. And just know when we got in there that hole was black." I realized my journey was about midway and decided I needed to take it day by day. That was years ago, plastic surgery went well and unless you look for it you can't even tell. So if you're faced with this please take it on the chin- and thank God for modern medicine.