My body seemed like a stranger to me.
“How long has this been growing?” I asked.
Dr. Patel shook her head.
“We cannot establish that from the current scan. The old record may be relevant, but we cannot assume this is the same cyst. We need to compare the information available and focus on treating what we see now.”
Michael leaned toward me.
“Mom, why didn’t you tell us about that earlier appointment?”
I stared at the floor.
“Because your father was involved, and I thought the story ended when he died.”
Dr. Patel gave us some privacy.
When the door closed, Michael turned toward me.
“I need you to tell me everything.”
I looked at him.
And for the first time in fourteen years, I did.
That evening, I was admitted for preoperative assessment and monitoring because of the size of the mass, my discomfort, and the need to coordinate surgery safely.
