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CHAPTER SIX
CARMELLA
I feel like I have a hot poker sticking through my right shoulder. Every time I take a breath, I feel like I’m inhaling needles. The pain is unbearable.
Slowly, I pry my eyes open to the sound of beeps.
“Hello, Carmella, you are just waking up after your surgery. My name is Sally, and I’ll be your nurse looking after you.”
I turn my head to the left to look toward her calm voice and wince.
“Are you in pain? I can give you something for that.” She lifts up my hand and fiddles with the canular.
I pull my hand away, and it sends a burning sensation down my right arm. I pull my left hand up to shield the pain.
Tears burn at my eyes.
“Sweetie, you need to let me help you. I can make you much more comfortable,” she soothes.
“I can’t. Is… is my baby okay?” I sob.
“Let me get the anesthesiologist to come and see you.” She pats my left hand gently.
Somehow, I manage to drift back off to sleep.
“Carmella, the doctor is here to see you.” Sally strokes her hand over my forehead.
“Hello, Carmella. Sally said you’re concerned about your baby? My name is Doctor Keeas, I put you to sleep for your operation. Do you know how far along you are?”
I shake my head. “The test said five weeks a few days ago.” I whimper.
Just simply talking is so painful.
“Okay, and from what I understand you are not keen to take the strong painkillers?” His manner is calming, not judging.
“I don’t want to risk harming the baby, if it’s still alive.” I sob, causing more pain to shoot through my arm, this time, though, I feel like I’ve been shot in my chest. My heart aches at the thought of the baby not being okay. I didn’t even have a chance to talk to it, to be excited or acknowledge him or her.
“Okay, well, how about I give you an injection into your shoulder? It is local anesthetic and it will block some of the nerves that are causing your pain. You probably won’t be pain free as the block may not cover the area completely above your right breast, but it should relieve some of the pain when moving your right arm. Then once you are a little more comfortable, I’ll see if I can arrange for a sonographer to come and see you whilst you’re in the recovery unit.” He smiles at me as he looks to the nurse and lists off what he needs to make me more comfortable.
“Do you have any questions, Carmella?” he asks.
“Are… Do my parents know I’m here?” I scramble to find the words as I struggle to get them out.
“Yes, your mother and father are in your room,” he nods.
I’m guessing he already knows who I am. Even if my family is not from New York, the Bianchis reach is wide.
“They… they don’t… they can’t know about the baby. I haven’t told them yet.”
He nods in understanding. “Nothing will be mentioned about your baby.”
It takes about twenty minutes, but once Dr. Keeas has finished, my arm feels a lot better. My chest still stings like a bitch, but it’s better.
Dr. Keeas keeps true to his word and reappears sometime later with a little stout man wheeling a machine behind him.
He takes a seat next to my bed whilst Dr. Keeas stands off to the side. Normally I wouldn’t be too happy to be surrounded by strange men, but Sally hasn’t left my side.
“So, you say your test said five weeks?” The sonographer asks.
