Belly Literary Universe (part 2)

Veera's Spectacle Part 8: changes

Veera went to great lengths to go unseen. The hospital accommodated her privacy needs as well as they could. They let her use a back storage entrance and freight elevator. To her minor disappointment, the floor was almost empty. With how excited she was, part of her wanted it to be crowded. To make them talk. But it would be so much sweeter when she stepped on stage looking like her fan Lilly.

As she waited, she dressed in the hospital's clothes. Unfortunately, a hospital gown didn't suit her with her platinum hair.

A while later, her doctors came in and introduced themselves.

"I'm Ebla Schwartz your pathologist and geneticist."

"And I'm Edward Lancing. I'll be handling your surgery today."

"Great to have you with us Ms Deva. Cory Gupta. I've been overseeing the list of changes. Deva is a chosen name right?" He asked with a thick accent.

Veera shook their hands. "Stage name turned real name, yeah. Old last name wasn't really stage worthy."

"It's a bit extravagant, isn't it? 'Divine, shining one?' " Dr Gupta asked.

Veera smirked. "Have you seen my stage outfits?"

"I suppose such confidence serves you well."

The other doctors gave a strange look to the third.

"Right." Dr lancing interrupted. "Anyway. Your surgery today is very straight forward. Won't take more than an hour. Since most of your treatment is genetic - which doctor Schwartz is more than qualified to handle, we'll be making a small incision under one of your breasts, and working via robots to place your implant right at the top of your stomach. Scarring will be minimal and easily concealed"

"And I won't have to worry about rejection or anything, right? 'Cause i don't want to worry about that."

"The body doesn't typically like foreign objects in the body, yes." Dr Lancing agreed. "The electrical leads connecting with your nerves are the only major part stitching out of the implant. The rest of the electronics are encased in a cool new meta material designed to make the body think it is a part of it. It treats it almost like bone, and allows cells to 'adhere' to it. Rejection is far from a concern. We'll install it, then a few weeks from now you'll be able to control your hunger from any supported smartphone. It's incredible really. I actually have one myself." The doctor patted his flat stomach.

Veera smiled at him. "Do you feel it? Like sitting there? On your stomach?"

When you activate it just creates a strange temporary sensation - nothing uncomfortable - just strange. Like eating without the actual sensation of eating. If that makes sense? I have convinced myself that if I drink something too hot or cold I can feel the implant. Almost like how a tooth filling conducts heat and cold more than a tooth. But I'm sure it's not actually happening. Just my imagination." The doctor laughed.

"But what about the stomach stretching treatment. Are you doing that at the same time?"

"Uh, no." Doctor Gupta said. "That will be coming down the line. You've been drinking lots of water to stretch your stomach, correct?"

"And peeing a lot, yeah."

"Well, Ms Veera, giving the nature of your request it is best that we do the treatment when your stomach has been stretched more or less to its maximal size. And you have at least three more weeks of diligently doing that. And besides, we don't want to risk two major stomach changes at the same time."

Veera sighed. "Fine. I guess. What about the genes?"

"Dr Schwartz leaned on her bed. "We've got one patient already undergoing the procedure right now, but once we get everything sterilized, and rest we'll get you right in there."

The doctor explained how she'd be getting hundreds of small injections all over her body. Veera thought of it as just getting a tattoo with deeper, fatter consequences. She was almost disappointed when they told her, she'd be put under for it. It made more sense when they emphasized that it would be hundreds of simultaneous injections.

She had a decent wait before her treatments would be started. She spent the time doodling lyrics on a pad of paper. Upheaval was coming. Eventually Dwight would find out - hopefully after it was too late and she'd become fatty - and she'd have to make changes. She chuckled at what his responses would be. Anger most likely, but maybe sadness as well. Would he try to end the tour out of spite? Maybe he'd resign in hopes to save his reputation. Her fantasy was keeping out of his sight till she stepped on that stage for the first time, looking positively massive.

She wanted food. And she knew it was coming. It was like a delivery, set to take 6-8 weeks. But at the very least she knew almost nothing would stop it..

The injections and surgery came and went like a whirlwind. All that was left was to recover, get her stomach stretched, and wait for the all clear.