[ WP ] Bad News , Good News .

White sheets with crinkled edges sat on a bent cream background as slightly darker shades arose in the shape of shifting thumbprints. Echoing footsteps sound from the hall, retreating and approaching, the muffled hymn of concern that permeates the wooden door at the end. Inside the small, sterile cell, she waits for his word. Clenched hands with white knuckles ignoring the dull ache. Time passed by slowly for them both, as though the conversation was inevitable. The doorknob turned as a sweet voice, not that of the doctor, called through. A little white lie slipped from her tongue, meant to ease the worries that plagued her mind. She already knew. He sought the right words for the right time, grasping at everything, but finding no more than what he already held in his desperate hands. 
 
 The world came to a halt, unwilling to move until the unavoidable had transpired. His coworkers pushed him from behind with chiding gazes that he felt, but never saw. A pale, clammy hand touched the metal knob before recoiling. His stomach churned as a cold sweat formed on the doctor's skin. She waited with baited breath, struggling to maintain her composure. The door opened with a creak as he stepped in. They spoke over one another. A hurried voice filled with worry and a quiet, deep voice that was tinged with dread. One apologized to the other as they offered each other the chance to speak. They took the opportunity at the same time once again. A nervous laugh did little to ease the tension in the room. The doctor cleared his throat before speaking. He would just make it up as he went. 
 
 “ Ms.—Mrs? ” the doctor began shakily. 
 
 “ Ms. ” she answered. 
 
 “ Ms. Troyer, I have good news and bad news, ” he said with a tone that hid little of his melancholy. “ Which would you like first? ” 
 
 “ I- ” she said, as her mouth stood open for a time and no sound came out. It closed as she considered which of the two that she would truly prefer to have first. Good news soured by the bad? Or bad news that distracted her from the good? “ Just give it to me, Doc. Tell me the truth. ” 
 
 His eyes drifted downward, catching upon the back of a black bug that scurried between the cracks of the tile lining the floor. He envied that bug in this moment. The doctor thought of what he would give for the chance to escape this responsibility. Delivering bad news was always difficult and it seemed as though it would never get better. He informed her that the condition that she was diagnosed with and had been treated for, for the past six months, was not what she had at all. What she had was several deficiencies and a condition less severe, but untreatable with modern medicine nonetheless. His heart broke as he watched the glimmer of hope in her eyes extinguished like fingers to a lit wick. Quickly. Soundly. The two remained in silence for a time, each with their own reasons, until they thanked one another and left. The doctor with his chart and the patient with a series of prescriptions. 
 
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