He was an arrogant egomaniac who decided to mock me with childish quips.
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall; who is the fairest of them all?” the doctor cited as he limped into my room. He was followed by both a disapproving, yet unsurprised, glare and another doctor into my room.
“I don’t know how you think you’re gonna win this, Cuddy, I’m obviously superior,” he sneered haughtily. He was obviously preening his feathers, circling his prey, marking his territory. His female companion ignored this goading comment with a roll of her eyes, obviously used to it, then directed her words towards me.
“I’m his boss, I can fire him,” she declared bluntly; the older physician dismissed this idea with a quick flick of his wrist.
“But you wouldn’t,” he scoffed, grimacing slightly as he manoeuvred his injured leg so he could sit down. She threw him a look.
“You’re so annoying,” I interrupted, halting their charged banter; they were apparently dissatisfied with my response. “I’m so confused…I don’t know what to do,” I continued in a much weaker voice, still not giving them a definitive answer. They both gazed at me eagerly, waiting for the punch line.
“I like her, but what now?” I mused, finally confirming the most dominant person in the room. I didn’t think the arrogant doctor could get embarrassed , but I was proven wrong. The obvious object of his affection turned slowly to face him, eyes widening.
-----
She was a young doctor who looked behind her as she walked into my room, then walked over to check my chart. After she’d finished the routine checks she glanced at the door once again, then took a deep breath. The brunette faux-confidently asked me how I was feeling.
“I’m scared,” a voice that wasn’t mine escaped my throat, small and shaken. Her eyes mirrored my voice, shining through her professional demeanour like a flare, silently crying out for help. She was lost, searching for escape.
-----
They all had different agendas, but one thing was the same; they treated me like a shiny new toy, never like a person.