© irene waters 2015
So beautiful. No external mark hinted at the catastrophic injuries she had sustained in the crash. She was my patient and I would give her the last dignities of life despite the tubes which gave her breath and drained her fluids.
“I’ll get security. The boyfriend’s getting angry. I’ve told him it’s relatives only. Some people.” My colleague went off, her huff travelling with her.
Some people indeed, I thought. I couldn’t leave my charge. I called over another colleague, who did my bidding.
The boyfriend stood behind the closed curtain with me. Tears streamed from four eyes. We hugged.
In response to Charli’s prompt: February 11, 2015 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story that demonstrates compassion. You can explore weltschmerz(enabling us to care enough about what’s wrong) and meliorism(driving us to try to do something about it) if you want to explore those specific terms. Consider posting on February 20, too for #1000Speak . This is a call to action to flood the internet with compassion and with numbers make a difference in lives.
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
what a catapult of emotions, Irene. Tenderness personified. Lovely FF
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Thanks Geoff.
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Oh dear! What a powerful little story Irene! You really have the hang of this story telling!
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Thanks Barbara. I had hoped for humour for my next flash but it didn’t happen.
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Wonderful, Irene. If doctors aren’t compassionate, what will become of us? I don’t think your flash is sad at all. You have focused on the doctor’s compassion, and her boyfriend’s love and final moments with her. That was a gift. (I say this because I’ve had really cruel experiences with doctors and dying relatives)
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I’m sorry you’ve had bad experiences. Often I think it is lack of knowing how to deal with the sadness themselves but it doesn’t make it any easier for the family and friends to be confronted with staff like that. I hope it happens less than it used to. I’m so glad you said you don’t think it is sad. Thanks Luccia
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Perfectly captured, Irene. Wonderfully done.
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Thanks Noelle.
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I’ve been on both sides of this. Wonderful flash.
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Thanks Sarah. Sorry you have been on one side.
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Gosh! this gave me goosebumps and made my eyes moist too!
Life can be so harsh sometimes…compassion is the way to go!
Great take, irene
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Thanks Ruchira. I agree — with compassion the world is a much nicer place.
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Such a sad story. Without compassion it would be harsh. You have told it beautifully.
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Thanks Norah. Compassion can make a hard time a little easier.
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Definitely. Knowing that your feelings are understood and respected at a time like that in your story is very important.
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Your flash is so sad and so beautifully written.
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Thanks Susan
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So sad, but a great write! 🙂
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Thanks Arl. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
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A beautiful, tender yet powerful flash Irene, just what I’ve come to expect from you ❤
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Thanks Sherri. That is a lovely compliment. ❤
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🙂 ❤ 🙂
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Such a beautiful piece of writing! The first line invites us to pause, to take in the scenery…then you explain the accident. That the narrator sees the beauty and dignity in this final stage of a young life is in itself beautiful compassion. But you take us deeper into the story of the denied boyfriend. “Taking her huff with her…” what a great line. Sad, but a beautiful way to calm the boyfriend’s anger.
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Thanks Charli. That was exactly what I was trying to convey.
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Often policies are written with the right intentions but they need flexibility in their application if they are not to come across as cruel. Your flash sums this up beautifully.
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Thanks Anne. I hope we have come along way since these times. Although sometimes with our politicians I wonder.
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