Maya kept her eyes on the ceiling.
She was not thinking about Ethan. She was not thinking about the child that had existed in her body for approximately five weeks and would not exist after the next several minutes. She was thinking about nothing with the deliberate focus of someone who had sealed a particular door and was maintaining the seal through the simple act of directing attention elsewhere.
The anesthetic completed its work.
Dr. Reyes spoke again, her tone even and informative, narrating each step before it occurred in the way that medical professionals in this particular specialty learn early in their training. Knowing what is coming reduces the body's involuntary resistance, which reduces complication, which produces better outcomes for everyone in the room.
"You'll feel pressure and cramping now. Tell me if it becomes more than you can manage and we'll pause."
