Gemotions

The doctor, thankfully, seemed sympathetic. She had explained, in hushed tones, the difficulties of her situation. She had expected a shared sense of understanding, a sense of relief from the burden of her illness. Then he arrived, a whirlwind of positivity and breezy pronouncements about "living your best life" despite the challenges. She felt a heat rise in her cheeks. His upbeat demeanor, his eagerness to share his "secrets" for managing the condition, felt… patronizing. She focused on the pattern of the wallpaper, anywhere but at his smiling face.