in four days i've witnessed the frailty of life,
seen hopelessness and hope co-exist,
watched on as devoted loved ones agonize their loss,
witnessed the futility of medicine against a raging illness.

it's only been four days. but i've seen two deaths and forty odd terminal cases.
and i know when i get back on monday,
there will be more beds empty;
more familiar faces missing.

i've learnt that death is as natural as birth,
even if people don't usually see it that way.
i've learnt that sometimes we can never heal them
but at least we can take away their pain.
to me the allure of medicine is not merely in its restorative powers,
but more so in its ability to make the hurt go away..
not a promise to cure, but the promise to make life a little more bearable.
it's akin to making someone stop crying and smile a little,
even if he knows that things are not looking up, or never will..