Dinner Break

Oncology unit with one stray postop 6:45 meds done everyone fed maybe I can grab one mouthful of whatever that was in the cafeteria from two hours ago first bite a call light goes on no one answers it and no one answers it and no one answers it . . . still chewing, I walk into 729B. There you sit with ripples of intestines piled in your lap and you're trying to apologize . . . sterile combines sterile saline surgeon screaming (I only understand the English part):

I'm tired

I want to go home

I want to have dinner don't tell me my staples didn't hold

I transfer you to the stretcher you're still apologizing for ruining my dinner