Clinical Protocol

The sanitary paper crinkled under my thighs,

a white noise for the things I couldn't explain.

I was ready to offer a dozen 'whys'

to justify the dull, persistent pain.

But he didn't ask for a chart or a graph,

he just nodded and pulled out his pen.

No skeptical look, no polite little laugh,

just the ink on the pad, and then

he handed me the slip with a steady hand.

It felt like a heavy, strange sort of weight

to finally have someone understand

without having to debate.