Sound Effect

Chapter Eight

The foursome walked back in. Mother was pale. I wondered if they'd decided to try Edwin's treatment. The coughing was annoying-would it ever stop?

"Darcy, it looks like you'll be undergoing some surgery today." Edwin came and patted my hand then continued, "I can't promise that you'll be free of whatever plagues you, but we can try to free you from it. The cough might not be something that can be fixed. Since it's been evident since you were a babe, it's probably a chronic genetic disorder. I gave it a name when I treated that last fellow. Let's see..." He tapped his chin and looked at the ceiling then his eyes lit up. "Ah! I remember! I called it the Woodland Cough. Clever, isn't it? It's perfect that your last name is Wood. What a coincidence, if I do say so myself! Well, are you ready? I'll put you under and hopefully the coughing will completely stop. Though people do cough in their sleep...this will be a bit different. Alright, we're going to move to my surgery and get started."

They wheeled me out with my breathing machine. I wished I could talk, but I decided to save my strength for when surgery was done. I wondered what the surgery consisted of, but I had no way to ask. Ugh, I felt so helpless. I hated that feeling. But the peace still followed me, and for that I was glad.

And before I knew it, my family and friends...and Violetta...were saying goodbye to me. I had a funny feeling about everybody leaving, but the feeling didn't last as pain killer and anesthesia took over...

I was coughing and floating. At least I felt like I was floating. I tried to open my eyes but to no avail. But I kept coughing and my lungs burned.

"Something went wrong," a male voice said. It sounded familiar, but I couldn't place my finger on it.

"Obviously. He's not supposed to cough anymore," a female voice answered.

"Remember, that isn't a given. It helped with his grandfather, but this boy is different. We can try my other remedy, but we didn't consult the parents about that."

"Let's do it. The poor boy." A cloth wiped my face. I vaguely recalled bleeding sometime, somewhere. I didn't get into a fight, did I? I wished I could communicate, but I felt weighed down and I couldn't move. The female voice continued, "Should we take the first one out?"

"No, leave it in. Maybe it has to take effect yet. Let's get started on the second one."

First and second what?

"Incision where?"

What? Were these people going to cut me open or something? I tried screaming. It didn't work.

"Whoops, looks like the patient is stirring." I heard something beep, and I felt the temptation of sleep calling to me again. And I gave in.

"Darcy?" Female voice. Soft voice. Sweet voice. Ellie.

I tried to make my eyes open, but they were having trouble. I could feel drool trickling down my cheek. Poor Ellie had to see that. I lifted a hand to wipe it off my face.

"Darcy, you're awake." A sigh.

"Yegh." My whole mouth and throat felt dry—even though I'd been drooling.

"Do you want some water?"

I nodded slightly.

"Okay, open your mouth."