You are new.

I dress

Slowly

Under watchful eyes

I don my armour.

 

Walking in,

We meet.

Your presence crawls

I feel it

My patient is sick.

 

You are an enemy.

A new one

A snake coiled

I keep you at bay

Knowing your danger.

 

I sense it

The spectre

Lost, in the wrong host

Searching

Taking life

 

I challenge you, breathless.

Darkness

Illness

Novelty

Pandemic

 

My patient’s eyes

Search me.

“Will I survive”

They say.

I don’t know.

 

Slowly, carefully,

I wash my gloves

Strip off the protection

Gloves

Wash

Gown

Wash

Hat

Face shield

Wash

 

Leave the room

Antechamber

Wash

Remove one band of the mask

Pull down

Remove the other

Hold straight

Don’t shake

Drop into trash

Wash

Wash

Wash

Exit

 

Wash again

Breathe

Move on.