In the hospital of Johns
Hopkins Children’s Center
the heart monitor kept
time with the clatter

of my footsteps as I
followed the man in white–
“Oncology” etched in black
lining on his starch white jacket.

I stayed behind to keep
out of the way, sterile
glove clad hands knew
where to touch the rolling
parchment paper skin

while serpentine catheters
wrapped from head to
toe helping the boy recover
but not to sleep;

then he spoke to the
mother with her red-
rimmed eyes, “We will
do everything we can,”

my head down, I silently
walked alone–
bubbling laughter from a
blue-eyed boy, IV in tote,
and then I knew I wanted
to be a doctor.