The moment before induction, when the room goes quiet

I've done this hundreds of times, but today it struck me again — the few seconds after the propofol goes in and before the breathing tube, when the ventilator hasn't taken over yet. The room holds its breath with the patient. Nobody talks about it, but it's the most honest part of the job. I started timing my own exhale to match theirs. Silly, maybe, but it keeps me honest too.