Gemotions

"Mr. Davies, your results indicate… stage four syphilis." The doctor had a look on his face like he was about to vomit. The words hung in the air, thick and heavy. David, a man who hadn’t been on a date in years, felt a knot forming in his throat. He’d requested a simple test for a persistent rash.

He stared at the sterile white walls of the examination room, the room beginning to feel a pressure on his chest. He felt betrayed, violated. He imagined the other patient, their life, their choices. The doctor’s hushed apologies echoed in his ears, meaningless. He simply stood up and walked out.