William Cass
Breasts

<< continued from Part 1

He waited while she untied her hospital gown, unsnapped the sleeves, and lowered it to her waist. She sat forward so he could unwind the elastic support and peel back the bandages, which he did slowly and carefully. Her new breasts were nearly a third smaller, upturned now, the suture marks below each areola very black and precise against the purple swath of bruising beneath it. He didn't touch her, but nodded, and said, "Everything looks fine."

Leila was staring down at her breasts with her hands folded in her lap. She nodded, too.

Martin hesitated, then asked, "Well, what do you think? Did they turn out like you'd hoped?"

She looked at him and cocked her head. "I'm not sure. Too early to tell, I guess." Their eyes held until she continued, "You know, you're the first man to look at them without that leer, that hunger, in his eyes. Clothed or naked."

He swallowed, then replaced the bandages and elastic support while she held her arms out to her side. Afterwards, he watched her snap her sleeves closed and retie the gown behind her neck. She looked at him again and said, "When can I go home?"

"Not sure," Martin said. "I'll talk to the surgeon, see what she says. Maybe later today."

"Good." Leila nodded slowly. "So, do you have a name?"

"Martin."

"And you're not married, Martin. I don't see a ring."

He felt color creeping up his neck. "Engaged."

She raised her eyebrows, kept her gaze steady on his, and said, "Lucky young lady."

He swallowed again, turned, and left the room.

The next day was Saturday, so Martin and Gwen started it like usual with a stop at the coffee cart on the corner and a walk along the concrete pathway that bordered the river. The spring morning was mild, first buds just emerging on the few cottonwood trees along the river's bank. It was still early, so the pathway wasn't yet crowded with joggers or bike riders.

They sipped their coffee and walked in silence until Gwen said, "Have a lot of studying to do this weekend?"

"Yup."

"Time for Thai food and maybe a movie tonight?"

He smiled. "Sure."

She took his hand, and they walked in silence again until they came to the bench that bordered a playground where they usually stopped to watch the children playing. They sat close together with Martin's arm around Gwen's shoulders. Two little boys were maneuvering toy trucks in the sandbox and making motoring sounds, their mothers talking nearby. A father was pushing his small daughter gently in a harness swing as the little girl squealed in delight.

"You think pediatrics is a possibility for you?" Gwen asked.

Martin's lips pursed. "Maybe. Wouldn't pay very well."

"Doesn't matter, as long as you're happy doing it. You have a way with kids."

"You, too. I always thought you'd be a good teacher. Kindergarten or first grade."

Gwen made a little dismissive grunt. Two young female joggers ran past dressed in spandex. Martin watched Gwen turn her head to look after them. She raised her cup to her lips, but then lowered it again and turned back to him. She said, "Did you hear what I told you the other night? About getting my breasts done?"

He sat looking at her, trying to keep his expression mild.

"Well," she said, "did you?"

"Sort of. I was drifting off."

"So, I've pretty much made up mind to do it. I've actually been saving for it for years. Since shortly after we met."

"Can I ask why?"

She shrugged. "Just something I've wanted to do."

"But, I love your breasts. Just the way they are."

"Of course you do." She patted his knee. "But, I don't."

Martin was the only medical student from his cohort to accompany the surgeon when Leila came a week later for her post-op appointment. When they came in the exam room, she was sitting on the edge of the table much as she'd been before the surgery with a purple silk blouse and a padded bra of the same color beside her and her arms folded across her naked chest. She looked from Martin to the surgeon, then back to Martin. She dropped her arms, keeping her eyes on Martin, and the same small smile as before creased her lips.

The surgeon removed the bandages and quickly inspected the incisions. The skin around them had returned to the paler color of Leila's breasts; no inflammation remained and the incisions' edges were flush.

"Very nice," the surgeon said. "No infection, smooth transition. Have you had any problems?"

"None."

"Are you pleased with the results?"

Leila looked from her to Martin and said, "I am."

"Well, then, good. Martin can remove the sutures, and you should be fine going forward."

Leila's smile grew. Martin dropped his eyes.

The surgeon continued, "I'd suggest continuing to wear a padded bra for another week or so, just for support and comfort. Then everything should be back to normal. Any questions?"

Leila shook her head. The surgeon left, closing the door softly behind her. Martin turned from watching her go and found Leila staring at him again. "I'm glad you're doing this," she said quietly.

Martin's heart quickened. He stepped to the sink, scrubbed his hands, dried them, then set instruments out on the counter. He opened an antiseptic wipe and raised it in front of Leila. He hesitated, keeping his eyes on her breasts, then wiped the incision on the right one gently and thoroughly. Next, he used the sterile forceps to pick up the knot, slipped the flat side of the surgical scissors underneath and snipped it.

"The surgeon was able to use a continuous stitch," he said. He tried to keep his voice steady, his eyes averted from hers. "So, these should be pretty simple to remove."

He continued snipping carefully along the incision's curve, cupping her breast in his other hand. Midway through, he saw her nipples stiffening, and a tiny, humming sound escaped her. He paused, staring straight ahead, and asked, "Is it too cold in here?"

"No," she said. It came out as almost a whisper.

"Might still be sensitive, kind of tickle."

"No," she said softly. "It's nice."

>> click to read: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

>> back to Issue 22, 2019