My name is Marco. I am a nurse. Today… I cried quietly in the hallway. Nobody noticed. Nobody asked if I was alright.
This morning I sat with two patients as they took their last breath. I held a father in my arms as he mourned the loss of his son. Later, I washed the hair of a gentleman who looked at me with weary eyes and whispered with a faint smile, “At least I’ll leave this world clean.” His hand clung to mine. No family came to say goodbye.
Every single day I give my best. Care. Presence. Human warmth. But in all of this, I often forget to give a little kindness to myself. I am not asking for applause or recognition. Just something simple. Maybe a voice saying, “Hey Marco.”
Maybe then, today, I would feel a little less alone.