Blood in the Water

The Anesthesia

"Good morning," I whispered in Connor's ear.

       He grumbled and rolled around.

"I'm hungry," he said.
"You can't have food or water before the surgery," I said.
"Ugh."
"Your dad is picking us up in like twenty minutes, let's get you up."

     He got up and prepared for the day. I had a blanket, pajamas, soft food, and water ready for when we got home. Derek honked the horn, and we got into the backseat of his car.

"What's up?" I asked him.
"Nothing, you ready Connor?" He asked.
"Yeah," he said.

     I could tell he was nervous because he was shaking his leg. I placed my hand on it and watched him play a football game on his phone. It wasn't far to the dentist, so we arrived quickly—perhaps a little too quickly for Derek's liking. He parked the car, and we went inside. After checking in, we settled down and waited in the room.

"Connor?" A young nurse asked.

      She was stunning. Damnit. We got up and entered the room. They explained the procedure to us. said we could wait in the car for him.

Derek and I caught up in the car while I did stuff on my phone. I saw him in a wheelchair, out of the corner of my eye. I love him, but he looked awful. He was high as the sky. Derek got out to help the nurse. He opened the car door.

"See this is my beautiful girlfriend," he said to the nurse.
"Oh I see," she smiled.
I laughed, awkwardly.
"He's all yours," she said while beaming.

      He got into the backseat next to me.

"Hey baby," he let out.

     He had gauze in his mouth and sounded so funny. He laid his head on me and looked asleep but he wasn't.

"I want ice cream," he said.
"We have some at home," I said.
"No I want it now," he whined.
"No honey," I said.

        He started to cry. I rubbed his hair.

"Where's my tongue?" He jolted up.
      He was feeling it.

"It's right there, silly," I said.

     He pulled out his bloody gauze, confused.

"Oh no, that's stopping the bleeding Connor," I said.

     I grabbed it and put it back in his mouth.

"Are you my wife?" He asked.
"No, I'm your girlfriend though," I said.
"You're pretty."
"Thanks."

      He sat up for a while. Derek has been laughing this whole time.

"I feel funny. I'm high as f-," he started to say.

       I covered his mouth.

"Yeah they put you under anesthesia," I said.

     We were almost home. He laid his head on my shoulder, giggling. We pulled into my driveway and I told him to unbuckle.

"What? There is no buckle it's a button," he said.

      I reached over and undid the seatbelt. Derek came around the car to help me get Connor up. I started crutching inside and they were slowly following. When we got inside Jada was waiting for us at the door.

"Is this a Lion?" He asked.
"No, it's our dog, Jada," I laughed.
"Where should I put him," Derek asked.
"In my room, on the bed," I said.

      They went to my room and Derek laid him down on the pink bed. He looked like a little princess.

"You've got it from here Alyssa?" He asked. "Yep!"
"Thank you so much. Be good buddy," he said patting Connor.
"I will," he said with the bloody gauze in his mouth.

       I heard the door shut behind Derek.

I let out a sigh.
"Well you didn't say anything in front of your dad," I reminded him.
He giggled.
"I'm hungry," he said.
"Ok, what do you want?"
"Ice cream."
"Ok, I'll be right back."

     I went and scooped him a bowl of ice cream. I came back and he was sitting up against our headboard, looking completely clueless about everything.

"I got you ice cream. It's chocolate," I said.
He smiled.

     I tried to hand him the bowl, but his hands didn't move.

"Here, let's take your gauze out for this."

       I grabbed his disgusting, bloody gauze and set it on a napkin.

"I can't feel my mouth," he said with it wide open.
He was drooling everywhere.
"Ok, here," I said.

     I placed a reasonably sized bite on the spoon. I put it into his mouth and he tried to eat it. It was falling out of his mouth.

"Oh swallow it, honey," I said.

     He did. I kept doing this until the bowl was almost gone. I grabbed him fresh gauze and got it into his mouth. I also pulled the blanket over him. He was closing his eyes.

"Aw, you tired baby?" I asked.

     He nodded. I got in bed with him and he laid on me. I was wearing a pink,  low-cut tank top. My chest was open and he licked the top of my boob.

"Oh my god Connor, stop," I said.
"What?" He cried.
"Go to bed Con."

     I stroked his hair and he fell asleep.

He still wasn't awake after four hours. I captured an adorable photo of him drooling on me while he was sleeping. I sent it to our group chat, even though I knew he would be mad. I was working on what I was going to get Drew for his birthday when he woke up. He was moaning and whining.

"Well, good morning."
"This fuckin hurts."

     I gave him some water, and he drank it. I changed his gauze again and administered the new pain medications as directed by the dentist. He was still a bit groggy, so I made sure everything was in order before letting him go back to sleep. He needed to rest and recover.

"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too buddy, goodnight." I kissed his head.

      I worked on some homework and watched more *Gossip Girl*. This made me realize how ready I am to marry him. He is perfect inside and out; he is exactly who I want in life, and I don't think I'll ever question that. We both share the same goals for the future. Even though we are still kids, we are serious about our future careers and starting a family.

      I eventually fell asleep, just like my arm did. He didn't sleep through the night. The anesthesia wore off, along with the pain medication, and he was in a lot of pain. I had to give him over-the-counter medicine and refresh his gauze and ice packs. It felt like taking care of a baby, but I love him, so I didn't mind. He took care of me for a while, so I'm happy to be able to repay at least a small portion of the care he gave me.

"I finally get to sleep," he said.
"I'm glad Connor."

     The group was going to come visit him tomorrow so I'm trying to get a good night's sleep too.