BREA
“Let's begin.”
The words left my mouth quietly, but everyone in the operating room seemed to hear them. I lowered my gaze to the patient's head, where the surgical drapes had left only the prepared area exposed. The monitor beside me continued its steady rhythm, each beep marking another second the patient remained alive. My attention settled on the surgical field, and the world outside that room disappeared completely.
I reached for the scalpel the scrub nurse had placed in my gloved hand and positioned it carefully against the scalp. “I'm making the initial incision now,” I said, more for the team than for myself. “Keep the suction ready and watch the blood pressure closely. I want every change reported immediately, no matter how small you think it is.”
I made the incision, fol
