12019-05-23T17:10:30-07:00Vyshali Manivannandc3d5257e938c70914fe0d76a4dca55376a2a698Black Sweatpants (Close-Up)Vyshali Manivannan2I tucked the drawstring into the waistband and paired it with a loose, long blouse to preserve a semblance of professional dignity. I was back in the classroom, one week after an appendectomy found fusion and sepsis in my abdomen. I was weak. My diaphragm resisted speech. I could neither laugh nor cough, and sneezes I couldn't prevent picked at the stitches, made the room spin. My body was a garment sewn with glue, masked by a professional airy blouse, sweatpants folded below the navel in case of pain, in case of bleeding, in case of emergency.plain2019-05-24T02:27:58-07:000,0Vyshali Manivannandc3d5257e938c70914fe0d76a4dca55376a2a698