Damn, I thought, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I didn’t realize it would be like this.
His eyes were so black I could see my reflection. “Open up for me,” he said. It was not a request.
With no small amount of trepidation, I laid my head back and attempted to relax my facial muscles. I focused my energy on my jaw line until, one by one, my willpower overcame my fear and ~ in direct contrast to the rigidity of the rest of my body ~ my jaw went slack.
“Good,” he praised. A ghost of a smile crossed his lips. Then he cocked one eyebrow and sternly added, “Now stay that way.”
Answering verbally would have gone against his orders, so I held silent. Mouth and eyes open, breathing carefully through my nose, I waited for him to enter.
Focus, I thought. Focus on your breathing. In, out.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
“Tell me if I hurt you,” he said.
Focused on the steady flux of air entering and leaving my lungs, and unable to close my mouth, I could only blink in response.
And then…
He took over. My mouth was no longer my own. It was but a wet canvas on which he practiced his art. The time slipped away as he worked between my lips.
Pressing.
Focus…
Probing.
Breathe…
Time ceased to exist. There was only my mouth and his ministrations. Twenty minutes was an hour was a second was an eternity and then…
Just as quickly as he’d begun…
He was done.
A strange calm settled over me when he pulled away and, lips trembling, all I could say was “Thank you.”
I could see pride reflected in his eyes. “You’re welcome,” he replied. “The receptionist will schedule your next appointment on your way out.”
*
I’ve had a perfect smile my entire life. Until today. I had my very first cavity filled at the dentist’s office. 😉
