To us, the frantic ringing of the phones was nothing new; 

in fact, it was all the usual. 

For them, 

well, 

they couldn’t say the same. 

To us, the hushed whispers on either side of the line was nothing new; 

in fact, it was all the usual. 

For them, 

well, 

they couldn’t say the same. 

To us, none of this was a change. 

So, 

tell me, 

why is it fair that their lives were never the same? 

That’s because it isn’t. 

———————————————————————————————————————

They walked into the hospital expecting an update, 

any update, 

about their son. He was their only one. 

They walked into the hospital with an inkling of hope, 

albeit a small one,

That they could meet their son. Their dying son. 

You would think that wasn’t too much to expect, right? 

That’s because it isn’t. 

And yet, we couldn’t deliver. 

We, the hospital staff that the parents rely on for their son’s wellbeing. 

“Unfortunately, 

we received no updates about Mr. Robinson’s health.” 

Was it that we received none 

or 

was it that we didn’t bother to ask more than once? 

“We can call up to the nurses’ station right now but, 

unfortunately, 

it won’t come for another few hours because we are busy upstairs.” 

———————————————————————————————————————

“Unfortunately” 

That’s a word I hear too often as a front desk volunteer at the hospital, 

to the point where it’s lost its meaning. 

The staff felt no sorrow 

and yet, 

that’s all the Robinsons felt. 

———————————————————————————————————————

“Unfortunately, 

we just received word that your son has passed away, not too long ago.

I’m so sorry. 

You are not able to see him at the moment.” 

From that point, all I could hear was sobs. 

But the phones also kept ringing. 

The conversations in hushed whispers still continued. 

Everything changed all at once, 

and yet, 

nothing changed at all. 

———————————————————————————————————————

The parents lashed out. 

“Sorry doesn’t cut it, we 

trusted 

you with our son!” 

That was their first mistake. 

“We need to see him.” 

And thinking the staff would do anything was the second. 

———————————————————————————————————————

“Ma’am, we’ll have to escort you outside if you continue yelling. 

I’m sorry. It is out of our hands” 

Except, we weren’t really sorry. 

At this point, we never are. 

We’re used to this dance. 

The whole

“I’m sorry we couldn’t do this” 

or 

“I apologize, we couldn’t do that.” 

But, if we really were that sorry, 

wouldn’t we try to fix it? 

Is that too much to expect? 

From what I understood, it is.