Jennifer

[Joey Delgado]

He was as tall as me when he stood up straight, which he rarely did, only when he was told.

He had long blonde hair that fell in golden waves all the way down his back and he would often take a small clump and twirl it in his fingers, sometimes so intensely I thought he would tear it right out of his head.

When I got in close to take his vitals he looked away, using his mass of hair to cover his face, and when I had to make him move it back to take his temperature via the ear, he did so with a trembling hand, like he was pulling back a curtain behind which lurked something dark and terrible. 

His arms, always crossed, were thin and sinewy, covered sparsely with very fine golden hairs, and he would rub them with his hands as if trying to warm himself against a cold front, perhaps coming off of me.

I opened his chart, checked out his name, looked at his medical history, and something in me felt if I didn’t address the elephant in the room he would never be comfortable, never be open with the doctors, never get the medical care he deserved, so I took a chance and said, “It says here your name is John, but honey, what’s your real name?”

The corners of his mouth curled up, only slightly, and his arms dropped to his lap and he said in a soft voice, “My name is Jennifer.”

[Edward Dean]

This is a huge nugget to work into a short story Joey....... I'm sure you realize it...... 'Make it so Commander'!!!!

[Crosby Kenyon]

Just the right amount of description for these six sentences.  Nicely done.

[Dude A Bydes]

I love your stuff, Joey D. Fact, fiction, or both--you are a "clinician" with the vignette. -Dude

[Annabelle Baptista]

Well written, the details are perfect and reveal the tension between this character and the outside world.

 

[Ali Znaidi]

Wonderful piece.

[Joe Gensle]

Not nursing, but nursing care, and told so tenderly. 

[Kaylynn Phillips-Temple]

Awesome piece. The world needs more nurses, doctors, etc. like you. favorited!

[Joey Delgado]

Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments. This was a very cool experience.

@Gita: At our clinic whenever we see patients, even if they're adults, we check their height and weight. She slouched, so I had to tell her to stand up straight. 

[Dorothy Pendleton]

What a great job you've done mapping out the dangers for Jennifer.  A new confrontation with a stranger, dark and terrible things lurking, possibly a cold front.  How differently things align with your assessment of the elephant in the room and your direct humanity.  Well-orchestrated, Joey!

[Teresa]

Poor Jennifer.  The world is so damn mean, until someone like you intervenes.  Kudos for being the ideal.