"Termination"

A beautiful post, by Maria at Intueri.

...A smile broke across her face when she completed her recollection. She turned to me, her dark eyes glistening with tears.

“Thank you for listening,” she said. “I really appreciate it. I will miss you.”

“I will miss you, too,” I said, almost trying to mask the fondness in my voice—God forbid I actually sound like I actually care for my patients. “I hope that you will do well and get out of the hospital soon.”

“So do I,” she continued.

We looked at each other, sitting in that moment when something warm and meaningful and touching and perfect should be said, but the words are lacking...