Arrive at the Hospital

You arrive at the hospital, your heart racing as your mother walks you in holding your hand.

The triage nurse is a young-looking Korean woman with soft features and a gentle stare behind thick-rimmed glasses. She wore her jet black hair in loose beach curls, and the nametag on her uniform read [Kyung-Soon Yong]. She smiles as you and your mother approach, clicking on her computer before greeting you.

"Hello, what can I do for you today?" She says politely.

"My kid here collapsed this morning and passed out for a few hours. My family has a history of brain-clots, so I want to make sure that isn't the case with my child." Your mother responds expertly. That's the Sergeant in her, after being in the Navy for 10 years. Kyung-Soon simply nods, and types into her computer while quietly repeating your mother's response to herself.

"Alright. And has your child ever been a patient at this hospital?" She follows up, hands ready at her keyboard.

"Yes." Your mother continues, rattling off your information to the receptionist as you looked around. It wasn't often that you went to the hospital for things, and a lot has changed. They even have a coffee lounge now, with automatic espresso machines.

"Hey, kiddo." Your mother nudges you and you glance over. "We can go to the waiting area now. You shouldn't have caffeine, just in case." She gives a worried smile before leading you to the waiting area. It isn't long before you're called back. Your mother starts to come with you, but you stop her.

"This is the intake examination, so they're gonna ask me a bunch of really personal stuff I'm not ready to talk to you about. Would it be okay for you to stay out here?" You blush as you say this, but keep eye contact with your mother as you speak. She gets a strange, empty look on her face, nodding.

"Yes. That's fine." She says very remotely. You furrow your brows, but decide to ask later as the nurse calls your name again.