Gifts and gratitude

Wine and chocolates! I admire them as they rotate gently in the air. I feel surprised but more than that, I feel gratitude: someone values me and the help I give. A voice clears. ‘ You haven’t given me the prescription yet .’ I return to the real world and the actual gift. ‘ Sorry ,’ I gather the luxury selection of bodily fluids, each in their own hurriedly- washed jar, and carry them gingerly away from my desk. ‘ Thanks for all these though, most diligent .’ As she leaves the room I see I have dropped further behind again, the computer screen informing me another three patients are already getting bored watching Waiting Room TV. I wish I could stay more focused. Apparently though, the magic …