On Mute

Chapter 24: The Risk He is Taking

                 Tap. Tap. Tap. Went my foot as I sat impatiently on one of the leathery seats, Mom went out to grab something from the vending machine and Mr. Alders was silent as a ghost. I somehow acquired a pamphlet that read Cochlear Implants and as I began reading it I realized why Marc was so nervous.

                 ""...as with every surgery this one has many risks,"" I licked my lips as I whispered what it said under my breath. ""...Tinnitus, facial muscle weakness, damage to the vestibular system, loss of feeling to face, and the most sever being facial paralysis."" I felt my fingers slipping from the glossy paper, sweat moistened my hands as nerves began to set it. I grasped the pamphlet tighter, scrolling the paragraphs, looking for anything else, or more specifically... looking to make sure there wasn't anything else. Suddenly my eyes darted to the topic labelled Downfalls to the Procedure. I began to read. ""...The operation destroys any prior hearing the individual may have, so generally the doctor proscribes only one implant instead of to both ears in case the operation is unsuccessful..."" I looked over to Mr. Alders, his gaze drifting up to meet mine, and he swiped a small smile onto his.

                 It felt like we were talking in our minds, his dark opaque eyes speaking in volumes of emotions no person could possibly explain in words.

                 "What is it Abigail?" I bit my lip, lifting up the pamphlet for him to spy.

                 "Cochlear Implant; that is what Marc went in for right?" He nodded his head, rubbing his knuckles as he did so. He didn't seem to want to talk but I couldn't stop prying; I had so many questions. "Sir, if I may... how long will the surgery take?" He licked his lips, looking absently to the clock.

                 "It's already been two hours... the surgery should last anywhere from 3 to 10." I moved in my seat.

                 "Why so long?"

                 "He is not getting one but both ears implanted."

                 "...The operation destroys any prior hearing the individual may have..."I froze.

                 "He knows the risk he is taking." Mr. Alders said, his words as cold as ice. I went limp, looking to my hands as weakness rocked me. Marc would rather risk being permanently deaf then go on living the way he was now? All for the gift of hearing? Then I felt a laugh creepy up my throat... I get it.

                 "I can understand where he is coming from;" I look to Mr. Alders, and then drift into thought. "He wants to hear his music." I put strength in my knees, lifting to my feet. "I know that if I went blind... I would do anything... to see my artwork again." I heard sobbing and looked from my dream cloud, Mr. Alders was smiling, his eyes a mess of a clear running film.

                 "Marc really knows how to pick them." I huffed, smiling along with him.

                 Four hours, twenty-two minutes. That's how long his operation took.

                 "You can see him in room 327, they have wheeled him in there just a few moments ago." Said the receptionist as she put down the phone. Once again her scrub disrupted the silence, the compression of our feet to tile being muffled by the softened soles of our sweated feet. She stopped at a room, opening the door to check if Marc was there, then ushering us in. Mom put her hand on my shoulder and I looked back.

                 "Be quiet, no loud noises. Remember, he is probably resting." Then she pushed me in the room gently and mouthed: "I'll be right out here." Then the door closed behind me.