Thunk, Thunk, Thunk, Thunk, Thunk, Thunk,
A disembodied voice chimes in
" Almost done....."
Tap, Tap of keys
" One last pass. Do you think you can hold still. This one is two minutes"
" Yeah sure, good call on the blankets. It's freezing!"
Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, Ta, in rapid succession
Shifting uncomfortably in the chair placed at the corner of the exam room. "I never sit on the exam table"
The door clicks open, the Doc steps in, chart in hand, stethoscope about the neck, hand out to greet the patient... His routine.
" How"s it coming along Doc? Any change.....?"
Doc places the chart next to the sink. He begins to wash his hands... His routine. While snatching up a few paper towels neatly stacked on the sterile counter, he turns about on his left heal to face the patient... His routine.
" Hello Mr. insert name here. How are you feeling lately. Its been about..."
Pauses as he glimpses the chart
" ... a month on your current treatment"
Bluntly interrupted
" Hey lets not beat around the bush, has it shrunk or not? Whats the next step?"
Doc brushes off the rude tone and dispenses with the formalities, the patient has the right to that at least even if time denies him everything else. With a somber face " It always goes better like that" he breaks the news.
" The course of therapy has had no effect and the tumor has metastasized"
Relapse of the good doctor... His routine.
" So I'm changing the therapy and I think this new treatment will have better success than the initial.."
The Doc knew his expression betrayed his words.
" ... treatment
