If you’ve been asked if you’ve a cold or a cough, and you answer in the negative, then you sit down and begin to wheeze, what are you doing here? Potentially putting others' lives at risk. The medical receptionist, she looks mildly irritated, and highly concerned, at the fact that this cough could be an effect of that which we are all so fearful of. You’re making others edgy, I know I’m sitting here anxious, wondering whose air is fleetingly expiring: are your particles contagious? We are in a pandemic, you’ve been exposed to screening questions, here I sit, upset, because the coughing just will not cease. Other patients begin to grumble, I can hear the disapproval in their tones, though I cannot discern their words clearly, I know they’re wondering why a tele-health appointment wasn’t arranged, why the offending splutterer did not stay at home. I know that we all have a right to be seen to when we are unwell, but please, won’t you abide by the rules? I wish you the medical attention you require, but your presence could prove a risk to us all. I could sit here and ignore the noises, not allow them to make me glance over my shoulder with irritation, because I care for my health, and others too, I wouldn’t attend the clinic if I had a persistent cough, and I hoped that neither would you. Please stay safe, and allow others to remain so, too. © 2020 Lauren M. Hancock. All rights reserved. Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
YouTube Poem videos: Lauren M. Hancock Poetry
Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose 
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