Familiar Waters

I find myself peering into waters that it feels I’ve waded in before, 

They’re warm and comforting 

And yet, every few steps I find myself teetering over the edge 

Of a cliff that is new to me. 

The sun is watching. 

A beautiful fish shimmies out from the depths. 

I smile in wonder, sticking my finger into the water ever so gently 

To see if I might be able to examine it even closer. 

It’s not what I imagined. 

There’s just a pink hue left on the horizon. 

Shuffling closer I stab my foot on something sharp

I know this pain. 

Streams of red slowly flow and my new friend moves closer to investigate. 

There’s a rip in its dorsal fin. 

The sun has faded and so has my comfort in this place. 

One last glimpse at this curious fellow,

I turn and glide to shore

Squinting to avoid further injury in the dusky waters

This pain suddenly feels foreign to me. 

Written by Anonymous, Internal Medicine PGY-2