Day 16: Death and Doctor

          Day by day my presence has been every person's demise. Every mother loathe me and no one wanted my presence anymore. I'm a plague doctor, my name is not important since my profession is what people cares about me. Every home I go into is nothing short of hatred, I cannot remember the last time somebody welcomed me in their home. It's the year 1350, and the black death occurred.

         The next farm and after that was nothing new, they threw plates and chased me with their brooms. They didn't like the idea of having someone to come over just to tell them that their loved one would die. Even as a doctor I could not do much for them, I could prolong their life but it would only extend their agony. It's a good thing I have this mask on, because I do not wish my patients see me afraid and fragile. I may always appear emotionless but it's for the good of everyone.

         I am merely the bearer of bad news. I may as well be a messenger rather than a doctor. No one knew how this plague started and how it works. Once a person contracted it, you wait for days to die. Nothing more, nothing less. Some days are worse than the others, as I stumble only upon corpses and not a grieving family. I was disappointed but at the same time I knew at the back of my mind there was nothing more I can do, he came before me.

       An old friend of mine was just outside the farmer's house where I was supposed to check in next. He was death, a hooded figure with a scythe. He saw me and went at my direction. "Rough day huh" he muttered. "Well either way you are more powerful than me, but why do you do this?" I answered with a shaking voice. "Don't blame me! I was just doing my job! It's not my fault that I do my job better than you! besides, I should be receiving a little gratitude as I release them form their agony" I was speechless. He was right, there was nothing more we can do but I let my ego get the best of me. "Gratitude?! You bumbling idiot! Most of the people who died are children! Do you know how I feel every time I will pronounce a child dead?!" He was quiet but I kept going. "I have this five year old patient who was about to die and there was nothing I could do. What would I say to his parent when I go there? He lived a fulfilling five years? It's just too much, it's really unfair." I calmed down and said my last though under my breath "Every day, I see children getting buried, those are the people I should've saved but didn't. It's funny how the smallest coffins weighs the heaviest in your heart" He wasn't speaking he was just there listening to me. I felt and itch at my arm. "You know, one day I'm coming for you" "I know, but not today"

     I continued my journey and we went on the same path. He was just ahead of me.