O R: The 'Chrysalis' Project

By Dan R. Fowler

"Kevin, you're going to feel a slight pinch," the nurse said calmly, her eyes never leaving the IV in her hand. Kevin Peterson, his eyes darting around the room, took a deep breath. "You're sure this is just a simple hernia repair?" "Absolutely, Mr. Peterson," she assured him, her voice a soothing monotone. "You'll be out like a light and back home before you know it." The anesthesiologist, Dr. Palmer, leaned over with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "We do this procedure all the time," he said, tapping the syringe with a practiced thumb. "You're in great hands." The room was cold, a stark contrast to the warm blankets that were tucked around him. The bright lights above made Kevin's skin feel tight, and the smell of antiseptic was strong in his nose. The surgical team moved around him with an ease that suggested they'd done this a thousand times before. He watched Dr. Palmer's gloved hand hover over the needle, the plastic tapped with the precision of a conductor poised before an orchestra. Kevin felt the pinch and the coolness of the anesthesia spread through his veins. It started in his hand and quickly made its way up his arm, a tingling warmth that grew into a comforting numbness. He took another deep breath, trying to ignore the knot in his stomach. His eyes grew heavy, his vision blurring around the edges. He fought to stay conscious, his mind racing. Something about this was wrong. He could feel it deep in his bones. "Count backward from ten," the doctor instructed. Kevin's voice was thick in his own ears as he began. "Ten... nine... eight..." His eyes fluttered shut despite his efforts. The world grew distant, sounds muffled. But he wasn't asleep. He was trapped in a hazy purgatory, unable to move or speak, fully aware of his surroundings. He felt the surgical mask being placed over his face, the cold metal of the surgical instruments touching his skin. A whisper of panic slipped through the fog in his mind. He hadn't consented to this. He hadn't even had a chance to express his fears. But it was too late now. The anesthesia was taking over. The last thing he heard was the low murmur of the surgical team discussing their weekend plans before the darkness swallowed him whole. Yet, in the back of his mind, he was still aware, trapped in a nightmare where he could hear but not be heard, feel but not move. He was alive but utterly powerless, and something told him that the secret of the OR was about to reveal itself in a way he never would have anticipated.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0F67F3TZT
• ISBN13: 9798280812475
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 677 Pages
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.5" x 5.5"