"We did say that losing your hearing was a possibility," Dr. Dominique reminded, patting my hand.
I shook her off. "No. You most certainly did not tell me this. I think I would remember."
Dr. Dominique chortled. "Maybe you just didn't hear, darling. But it was always a possibility."
I took a deep breath and tried to count to ten. One. Two. Three.
Taking one more deep breath Grinding, I replied. Grinding out every word, I accused, "I came to you with a cold. Your medication caused an ear infection. You need to fix this."
She looked down at her notes. "Well, yes. I did prescribe you that trial drug. But I'm sure you signed the waiver."
Dr. Dominique rummaged through some more notes, looking more anxious.
I held up my hand to silence her. "Just stop the pain. Stop it getting worse. Please."
I held my head in my hands, as I heard her sigh.
"I will try. We'll run some more tests, but until we know anything more, you should just go home and relax."
I gaped. "Relax? When I'm going deaf? How the hell do you expect me to relax?"
"You're not going deaf. Yet. Your ears are healing and temporary hearing loss is common. It usually only takes a week or two."
I breathed in and out. Two weeks with this pain in my ears? And the absence of sound that would hopefully not last?
"That's only 14 days. Come back to me then and we might have some good news." She smiled, but I had no reason for joy.
I stood. "Thank you for your time. I'll await the results."
Without waiting for a response, I left the suffocating room for the freedom of the road.
I didn't know where I was heading really. I'd taken an uber here and hadn't really paid any attention. The pain sort of consumed all thoughts. It was only my second time in this part of town, both times driving straight up to the doctor's practice.
I took a breath in. And released. And then another.
I turned left. I think my house was that way. I'd only started renting there a little over one month prior. I wasn't really aware of any of the surroundings yet.
If I'd had more time, or hadn't gotten sick, I might have had more luck. I might have even known how to get home.
All I knew was the cold was coming in, fast. I wrapped my coat tighter around me, but the wind sailed past into my ears.
As the cold crept in faster, so too did the dark. Surely I didn't live this far out. I should probably call somebody.
As I reached for my phone, I paused. Something was missing. Something was wrong. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
I glanced around, but I couldn't see anyone. The street lights illuminated the wet and abandoned road.
I felt the wind swirling by my ears, but it didn't bother me as much as before. I could barely hear it. Come to think of it, I couldn't really hear anything.
I couldn't hear anything. At all. Not the wind. Not the city. Not even my own breath. No, this couldn't be happening.
The doctor had mentioned partial or temporary hearing loss. As a possibility. Not a certainty straight after leaving her.
I hit my ears, hoping to warm them up or knock them back into shape. I don't know really.
I needed to sit down. I couldn't control my breathing anymore. I tried. One. Two. Three.
