In "Ink in the Blood: A Hospital Diary," Hilary Mantel reflects on her hospital experience following surgery in July 2010. She describes the emotional impact of her situation, sharing a poignant moment when a strongman figure disappears upon her getting into bed. This signifies her struggle with the intangibility of her thoughts and fears surrounding the operation. Despite the surgeon's assurance that the procedure is routine, Mantel reveals the significant personal weight it carries for her. The passage encapsulates the duality of medical procedures: while they may be commonplace to medical professionals, they can be monumental and paralyzing for patients. As she documents her thoughts in her diary, she captures the fleeting nature of her existential reflections, illustrating the tension between her physical reality and emotional landscape. It highlights the complex relationship between the patient and their experience in the clinical setting.

As I get into bed beside him, the strongman vanishes. I pick up my diary and record him: was there, isn't any more.

This happened in early July, 2010. I had surgery on the first of the month, and was scheduled to stay in hospital for about nine days. The last thing the surgeon said to me, on the afternoon of the procedure: 'For you, this is a big thing, but remember, to us it is routine.'