Overgrowth
"Zaltazar’s Garden Syndrome. Discovered by Emberto Zaltazar, this is a deadly condition in which malicious plants start digging their roots into the body of their host, spreading their influence on their body, shooting seeds into the organism to prepare for more growth. Essentially turning the host into a 'Garden' from the inside out. A living one, no less."
It had started to get itchy and painful when she decided to go see her usual Dreadnaut doctor. She appreciated his honesty when he told her that he didn't think he could handle her case and sent her to one of the best doctors for her condition in Atlantis.
Zaltazar's Garden Syndrome was what the doctors called it. They said it would be a simple procedure and that she was lucky that she came in early enough. The roots had not spread too far, they said.
After the surgery she felt around for the familiar coral on her head but instead felt the wraps of cloth bandages. It was taken care of–or at least it was, for a few days. She didn't feel anything, but she noticed a small lump forming where the surgical wound was 3 days after the surgery. It shocked the nurses and doctors when the coral had grown through the bandages by the time they had come to see her for a follow up.
Tests were run, images were taken.
The doctor came back with an X-ray.
"I'm sorry to say the overgrowth has come back. It seems we did not remove all of it."
Margaret nodded, looking solemnly at her hands on her lap. It was stupid. Why did she let her friends convince her to get overgrowth years ago?
"This is your x-ray we took recently."
"It looks worse."
"That's right. The roots are deeper than it was before. It seems the overgrowth has undergone a stress response from the removal procedure and has grown exponentially. The location and position of it is precarious so it is unlikely that we will be able to remove it again."
There was a lump in her throat and she couldn't get the words out. Am I going to die?
"I think there is something we can do."
She glanced up at the doctor.
"Are you aware of bonsai?"
"Bonsai?"
"A terrestrial art form. It involves controlling a plant's growth with careful pruning and trimming. I believe that we can control the overgrowth if you maintain it well, but we must be careful not to trim too much or else the stress on the overgrowth may cause it to become further entrenched."
"So I'll have to live with it until it kills me."
"Not necessarily. You'll have to learn to coexist with it."
She quietly nodded.
Author's Notes
Minigame Prompt: Wordplay
Word Prompt is X-Ray
Event from May 20th to May 31st