They found themselves in the bustling lobby of the ocean's most renowned medical center, the
Coral Reef Clinic. "You'll be fine," Karen assured, voice steady. "They're the best in the sea."
Finally, a nurse called. She gave an
encouraging smile. "I'll be right here. You're not in this alone."
The doctor examined Plankton's throat. "My
Plankton," he said, "you need a tonsillectomy."
A tonsillectomy? The thought of surgery
was more terrifying than facing SpongeBob and Patrick
combined. But he nodded. "Okay," he whispered.
The doctor explained the procedure Plankton nodded along.
Karen listened intently. The doctor
assured them it was a common procedure and that Plankton would be in good hands.
Karen packed
a bag with his favorite blanket and a few snacks, trying to keep her own anxiety in check.
"Ready?" she asked, voice filled with forced cheerfulness.
Plankton took a breath and nodded. Karen gave
him a reassuring smile, and together they set off for the clinic.
Once they arrived, Plankton was immediately whisked to a pre-op room. The nurse
explained the process again. Karen
stayed by his side, in silent support.
The anesthetic began, and the world grew fuzzy around the edges. The last thing
Plankton heard was the doctor's calming voice. "You're going to be just fine, Plankton. We'll take
good care of you." Then, everything went dark.
When he woke up, the world was a whirl. His throat felt as though someone
had stuffed it with seaweed. He tried to sit up, but his body felt like it was
made of jelly.
Plankton blinked slowly, struggling to focus.
Karen chuckled softly. "That's the anesthesia, Plankton. It'll wear off soon."
The nurse adjusted his pillows and offered him water. The cool
liquid trickled down his throat, soothing. Plankton took a moment to settle before speaking
again. "Did it...did it work?"
"They got 'em out, Plankton. Your tonsils are no more."
Plankton's eye widened. "Really?"
Karen nodded again, smile growing. "Yes, really. You're on the mend now."
Plankton's eye searched the room, still cloudy from the anesthesia. He spotted his favorite
blanket folded neatly at the hospital bed. "Did you bring that?" he asked, voice slurred.
"Of course," Karen said, her tone warm and soothing. "I knew it would make you feel better."
The nurse, noticing his confusion, leaned in closer. "The anesthesia can make you feel a bit loopy
for a while, it's completely normal."
Plankton nodded, his movements slow and deliberate. "So, these are the... used to...to take them
out?"
Karen nodded, trying not to smile at his bewildered state. "They're just tools, Plankton. You won't
remember anything. It's all over now."
He blinked again, his eyelid feeling heavier than ever. "But...but how will I eat?" he mumbled, his
voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't worry," Karen said, stroking his forehead gently. "They'll start you on a soft diet,
like algae smoothies."
Plankton's eye drooped, a lazy grin spread across his face. "Algae...smoothies?
Sounds...sounds delightful." His words trailed off, his eyelid grew heavy.
Karen watched as he drifted to sleep. Despite his usual
scheming ways, she knew he was good at heart. And she was determined to be there
for him, every step of the way. As he slept, she took his hand in hers, gently stroking his arm.
The nurse gave her a knowing look. "He'll be out for a few hours," she said softly. "Why don't you
go get some fresh air?"
Karen nodded, giving Plankton's hand a final squeeze before letting go. She made her way to the
waiting area, thoughts swirling like the currents outside. The surgery had been a success, but
the road to recovery would be a long one. She hoped he'd be ok.
Plankton was still sleeping, breathing even. She looked over at him, his tiny form
swaddled in the blanket.
The room was quiet, save for the occasional beep of the heart monitor and the distant sound of
water gently lapping against the shore. Karen leaned over and whispered, "Plankton, can you hear
me?"
He stirred slightly, eye fluttering open. "Karen?" croaked his voice barely audible.
"I'm here. How do you feel?"
Plankton's eye searched hers with a dull weariness. "Tired," he
murmured. "But...it's gone?"
"Yes, gone. You're going to start feeling better."
The nurse, noticing Plankton awake, came over to check on him. She adjusted the
monitors and took his vitals, confirming that everything was as it should be. "Looks like you're all
set to go home," she said with a smile. "But remember, take it easy for the next few days."
Karen lit up at the news. She gathered things, eager to get Plankton out
and back to the comfort of the cafe. The nurse helped him into a wheelchair, and
they began the journey to the exit.
Once outside, the sun begun its descent. Karen
pushed the wheelchair slowly, not wanting to jar him too much on the cobblestone path leading to
their underwater vehicle. Plankton squinted against the light, eye still adjusting.
Their ride home was quiet, the hum of the engine lulling Plankton to a doze.
When they pulled into the cafe's docking area, Plankton stirred, his eye blinking open.
They reached the small living area, and Karen helped Plankton into his favorite chair,
tucked his blanket around him, making sure he
was comfortable. He looked up at her with a tired smile, his eye shimmering with gratitude.
"Thank you, Karen," he whispered, voice hoarse from the surgery.
"No need to thank me," she replied, fussing over him. "I'm just happy you're ok."
Plankton's eye searched hers, confusion swirling. "But...what happened?"
"You had your tonsillectomy, Plankton remember?"
Plankton's eye searched hers, the confusion deepening. "No," he croaked. "The last thing I
remember is...being in pain."
Karen's heart squeezed at the distress in his voice. "You don't remember the surgery?"
Plankton shook his head, his eye wide with shock. "No, it's all...fuzzy. What happened?"
Karen took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Well, you went into surgery, and
the doctors removed your tonsils. You've been asleep for a few hours."
Plankton's eye grew wide. "Asleep?" he squeaked. "How could I have not known?"
Karen nodded, stroking his arm gently. "It's the anesthesia.."
Plankton's mind reeled, trying to piece together the events of the last few hours.
Everything was a blur, a series of disjointed images and
sounds that didn't quite make sense. He remembered the doctor's. But the surgery? It was
as if it had never happened.
He looked over at Karen. She had a smile on her face, as if she could read his thoughts.
"You were out like a light," she said, voice soothing.
"What's with the blanket?"
"It's for your comfort," Karen said. "You're going to need to rest your voice."
Plankton leaned back in the chair, eye drifting closed again. "I feel so...so peculiar," he
murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Like I've been swimming in a sea of bubbles."
Karen chuckled. "It's anesthesia," she said. "You're acting like you've had one too many jellyfish
jams."
"Everything's spinning," he slurred, his speech still not quite right.
Karen couldn't help but laugh with amusement. "Plankton. It'll wear off soon
enough."
Plankton's eye grew wide, and he tried to sit up, his movements jerky and uncoordinated. "Karen, I
think...I think I'm floating," he said with wonder.
Karen couldn't help but laugh. "You're not floating, Plankton. You're just still a bit out
of it from anesthesia."
"I swear, I can feel the bubbles!" Plankton giggled, his eye trying to follow invisible orbs
floating in the air. His movements grew more exaggerated. "Look, Karen I'm swimming!"
"Plankton, you're not floating," she said, her voice a
gentle tease. "You're safe and sound."
He looked at her with a goofy grin, eye still glazed over. "But I feel so...so light," he said, his
voice trailing off into a giggle. "Like I could float."
Karen couldn't help but smile at his silliness. It was a stark contrast to the fear and anxiety that
consumed him earlier. "You're not going anywhere, Plankton," she said. "You need rest."
"It's just...it's all so weird," he murmured, eye drifting shut again.
"You're just tired," Karen said, her voice soothing. "Why don't you take a little nap?"
Without another word, Plankton's eye slid shut, body slack. Karen watched him, his
chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. She knew for now, he was at peace.
Karen pulled the blanket up to his chin. She
didn't want to leave his side.
As hours passed, Plankton's snores grew softer.
The sun sank below the horizon. Karen felt tension ease as she watched
him sleep.
When Plankton finally stirred again, the room was bathed in the soft glow of the moon through the
windows. His eye blinked open, free of the anesthesia's haze. He
looked around, his gaze settling on Karen. "Where...where am I?"
Karen sat up. "You're home, Plankton," she said, voice gentle. "You had your tonsillectomy today."
Confusion swam in Plankton's eye as he took in his surroundings. He felt a dull ache in his throat,
a stark reminder of the day's events. "Home?" he croaked.
Karen nodded. "You've been sleeping for a while," she said, her voice a gentle caress. "How do you
feel?"
"Thirsty," he managed to croak.
Karen was at his side. She held a glass of water to his mouth, and he took a tentative
sip. The cool liquid soothed his throat, and he sighed with relief. "Thank you," he whispered, his
voice quiet. "What...what happened?"
"You had your tonsillectomy," Karen reminded him, her tone soothing. "You're going to be ok."
Plankton nodded, the reality of the situation slowly sinking in. The fear
replaced by a new sensation: relief. ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 𝟷,𝟼𝟸𝟷