I’ve been a nurse for six years now—long shifts, aching feet, and barely enough time to grab a bite—but despite it all, I love what I do. In the hospital, all that really matters is your skill and dedication; nobody cares about your appearance as long as you can take care of your patients.
But today… today forced me to confront a past I’d rather leave behind.
I strode into the ER with my chart in hand, my mind already on the next case. I barely registered the patient’s name as I began my routine, “Alright, let’s see what we’ve got—” Then I looked up.
Robby Langston.
There he was, seated on the examination bed with his wrist in a painful grip. As soon as his eyes met mine, they widened in surprise. For a moment, I wondered if he hadn’t recognized me—but then he glanced down at my face, hesitating over the memory of my features, and it all came flooding back.
Middle school, high school—Robby had been a relentless tormentor. He had mocked me with cruel nicknames like “Big Becca” and “Toucan Sam,” each barb designed to make me despise every part of who I was. For years, I wished I could disappear, shrink away from the ridicule and shame. And now here I was, standing in scrubs in an ER, holding his chart while he needed my care.
“Becca?” he said, his voice tentative and uncertain. “Wow… it’s been a long time.”
I maintained a neutral expression, carefully concealing the turmoil beneath. “What happened to your wrist?” I asked in a professional tone.