Student Publishing Program ::

Tammy Hsieh

No Turning Back

Life
Is an unmapped road
With infinite routes
A dramatic movie
With no rewind button
It could just be about anything
That could take you anywhere, anytime

What I underwent
Brought me to one of the many routes
A movie with a twisted plot
That seemed unlikely to happen
But it happened anyway
And there’s no turning back

I was coming home from a skiing trip
In a crowded car
When an unexplained pain
Forced the car to take an unexpected turn
Onto an unknown path
The destination?
Remained a mystery
But not for long

Wait!
Stop.
I frantically thought
Catching my breath
Hadn’t I arrived at my destination for a check-up?
No I was wrong.
I checked again
It was still green light

I was on my way to an unknown route
Suspecting danger
Shock
Fear
Nervousness
Overshadowed me in a matter of seconds
When I heard,
“You’re going to the ER”

I rushed into a room
Mostly consisting of elders
Sitting down
Waiting…
And waiting…
Until I was moved into a private room

Lying in bed
Nurses and student doctors
Occasionally checking in
Providing care
It wasn’t as bad
As I had thought
Stories
Laughter
Filled the room
Which made me see how important it was
To bond with the patient
Their hospitality and friendliness
Brightened the room with smiles

Unfortunately
The doctors took awhile
To come up with a decision
That would alleviate the pain
Luckily
It was only a minor operation

Because of this experience
I often reflect back to
The emotions
The room
The faces
When I see someone getting hurt
For I learned that patience is key
I learned that decisions were like roads
Representing the climax of a movie
Where everything tenses up
Leading to a certain path
That one cannot turn back
Once a decision has been made
In order to restore one’s fragile health
Back to what it once was

Now I have decided to take on a route
Dangerous?
Perhaps.
I really don’t know.
But this time I know my destination
My goal?
To become a doctor who cares about others
And this time
With the seatbelt buckled up
With me
Driving the car
With a mapped out road in hand
Ready to rock 'n' roll

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