The Growth Spurt

(Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction and in no way relates to or represents any organization or individuals. Any similarities are purely and completely unintended and fictional.)

It was 6:00 a.m. Time to start.

Daniel rolls out of bed and stumbles to the kitchen for coffee. Thirty minutes to wake up, and then it’s in the weightroom. No time for extra reading this morning. His appointment with the doc couldn’t be postponed.

Two hours later he’s out the door and headed to the clinic. The thirty minute drive would help steady his nerves before the consultation with the doc.

The clinic parking area is mostly empty at this time of the morning. Daniel finds a parking spot close to the entrance and parks with ten minutes to spare. It was exactly enough time to look at it again.

The Growth Spurt

Daniel was a fitness coach. As a fitness coach he had learned to budget his time sparingly. Each segment of time was important. Therefore deviations were not acceptable.

It is rewarding to have an extra ten minutes to spare. Dedicating it to further research his goal, was the plan. Furthermore, he always stuck to the plan.

He was hellbent on reaching new heights. Literally. It wasn’t that he was vertically challenged. His measurements were normal at five feet, eight and three quarters.

He wanted to be six feet tall. He wanted it so badly that he was willing to do anything to achieve it. Including, but not limited to, anything.

black and white picture of a man — Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

He pulls out the brochure and looks through the details and information again. Have to remember to ask the doc about scarring.

Doctor Spurt

The first thing Daniel notices when entering the clinic, is that it’s small, but modern. Also the receptionist greets him warmly. Then asks him to fill out some forms while he waits to see the doc.

Furthermore, he wonders how many others this Doctor Spurt has helped. There isn’t anyone else in the waiting area of the clinic, and business doesn’t appear to be booming. After filling out the paperwork, he returns it to the receptionist.

He knew the recovery time for the surgery would be six weeks. Furthermore, he knew there would be pain throughout the recovery.

The receptionist summons him to the kiosk again. This time he is going to the bathroom with a little plastic cup.

The plastic cup task, takes less than a few minutes, and afterwards he is led to a room with an examination table. Additionally, there is a tray of medical instruments, and a stool on wheels.

The receptionist closes the door to the little exam room. Daniel is left alone for the time being. He sits on the side of the exam table and begins waiting for the doc. He notices there is a strange odor in this little room, and he yawns.

This catches him off guard, he always gets the right amount of rest. He yawns again and this time the little room swims before his eyes. Now he’s feeling alarmed, as he feels himself, falling back, on the exam table. The lights go out.

growth spurt

Daniel awakens to a sunny day. It’s hot and he doesn’t remember how he got here. He looks around his car and feels himself swoon dizzy at the sudden movement.

He is parked at the local pharmacy and has no memory of driving here. Moreover, there is no memory of anything after entering the clinic this morning. He is holding a sheaf of paperwork. Also his legs are heavily bandaged. Now he begins to feel panicked.

The panic triggers indignation, and he shakes his head quickly, to clear the cobwebs. He had not agreed to anything. The appointment had been for consultation only.

His panic driven indignation, begins to turn to anger as he sees the heavy staining of blood, on the bandaging around his legs. And his panic reaches new heights.

On the top page of the paperwork he is holding, there is a message written in crimson, that chills him to his core.