Thread by @gradydoctor

1/
Grady Hospital, last week

You: “What’s up, Dr. Manning? I been hoping I’d see you.”
Me: “Hey you! Good to see you.”

You paused, gave your arms an exaggerated fold, and huffed.

You: “You know I got a bone to pick with you.”
Me: “With me?”
You: “With y-o-u.”

Hmmm.

2/
Me: “Okay. Talk to me.”
You: “What’s this omicron? Maaaaan you got me thinking if I took them shots I’d be good.”
Me: *listening*
You: “I know 3 people who took three of them shots and all three of ‘em got #COVID!”

I took deep drag of air.

3/
Me: “Yeah. We’re seeing breakthroughs right now. But the good news is that if you’re vaccinated it’s usually mild.”

You scowled.

You: “I’m salty. You know I ain’t even want that shot! But I got it ‘cause it felt like the only way to get back to living.”

I nodded.

4/
You: “So now I got whatever inside my body and I can still get sick? And the shit is more contagious?”

You sucked your teeth loud enough for me to hear through your mask.

Me: “Yeah. I totally get the frustration. I feel it, too.”

*silence*

5/
You: “Mostly I feel low key stupid. Like, my folks who ain’t ‘bout that vaccine life are laughing at me now. They like, ‘What I say? You let them give you that shit and ain’t got nothin’ in return.’”

Oof. I could tell your feelings were hurt.

Me: “I hear you.”

6/
You: “Maaaan. This some bullshit.”
Me: “Listen. I get it. But. . .”

I paused for a moment. I didn’t want to impulsively say the wrong thing.

You: “But what?”
Me: “But . . . nothing. Like, I get how you feel.”

I realized that I was feeling deflated, too.

You saw it.

7/
You: “My bad, Miss Manning. You know I ain’t mean to come for you like that.”
Me: “It’s cool.”

*silence*

Me: “Umm. So we don’t know a whole lot about Omicron. But I can tell you some of what I’ve learned so far.”
You: “K.”

8/
Me: “So it looks like it’s more contagious.”
You: “Shit, more contagious than what?”
Me: “Than Delta or the other variants. So it’s probably gonna get worse before it gets better.”
You: “Even if you got vaccinated?”
Me: “I mean, yes and no.”
You: “Say what now?”

*laughter*

9/
Me: “Like yes we are seeing breakthrough infections. But in people who got vaccinated it looks like they don’t get as sick though.”
You: “Do you think. . . like . . . that will change?”

*silence*

You: “Like people not getting as sick if they got the vaccine?”

10/
I raised my eyebrows and sighed. Because real talk? I didn’t know for sure.

Me: “Here’s what I believe: The vaccinated folk are always gon’ be better off than the ones who aren’t.”
You: *listening*
Me: “I really think that. Whether they get infected or not.”

*silence*

11/
You stared at me for a few beats and then closed your eyes. You pointed your face to the heavens.

Me: “I swear to God. I’m so tired of this shit.”

I could tell that your teeth were clenched as you spoke.

Then you opened your eyes.

We sighed in unison.

12/
Me: “I’m tired of it, too. But I think it’s okay to be tired. And unsure.”

You nodded slowly.

Me: “Just not okay to give up. Or act like damn near a million people hadn’t died from it here.”
You: “Damn. That’s a lot.”
Me: “And that don’t even include the ones who lived.”

13/
You: “Huh?”
Me: “Like the people who had COVID but are disabled from it after. Nobody really talks about how messed up it can leave people.”
You: “Damn.”
Me: “Yeah. Damn is right.”

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. I needed to go.

You saw that, too.

14/
You: “Hey listen. . . thanks for always keeping it real with me.”
Me: “Thanks for trusting me.”

You put a hand on my arm.

You: “We gon’ be alright, Doc. Okay?”
Me: “You think?”
You: “Yeah. I do think.”

*silence*

You: “Alright then. Love you, Doc.”
Me: “Love you, too.”

15/
I walked outside and felt my eyes stinging with tears.

I feel grateful for that honest exchange. And for the relationships we’ve all built over the years.

And even though the world can’t seem to agree on much of anything? I think we can all agree on being tired.

Yeah.💛