Flashes of Inspiration

Consent to Treat

"It'll be over in the blink of an eye. I promise."

Terry looked at the doctor stonily. "You want to stick that thing in my neck? It'll come out the other side; that thing is huge! And it'll be over in the blink of an eye?! At least tell me the truth about it, Doc."

Dr. Albertson sighed. Terry Cummins was a difficult patient. Not because she was unkind or afraid or belligerent. She simply wanted it raw and up front, and that brutal honesty made him uncomfortable sometimes.

"Alright then, Terry: it's going to sting like a bitch for about five seconds, then you probably won't feel a thing until I extract the biopsy. When I'm done, your neck will be sore and stiff for quite a while, maybe as much as two days."

Terry looked apprehensive, but she didn't shy away. "Alright. I'm ready."

"Just be glad it's not a bone biopsy. That one hurts like hell." He moved the needle to her neck and pushed.

He was right! Terry thought, grimacing. This stings like it did when I lost my virginity! She chuckled grimly at the strange connection her mind had made and Dr. Albertson frowned.

"Hold still, now. I don't want to start wiggling this thing around and nick something I'm not supposed to."

Back at home, the hard part began— the waiting. She was distracted at dinner, and she had the devil's own time trying to get to sleep. After a while, she gave up, sighed, and went outside to have a decidedly unfulfilling nicotine-free e-cigarette. She looked at it scornfully, missing her Parliament 100's, turning her head this way and that from the stiffness.

Terry looked out into the night and came to a solemn conclusion: cancer was simply a pain in the neck!

NOTES: ▶︎

Word Count: 300
Submitted for "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt: Use the words blink, neck, stick