I held my breath, my entire body tense, waiting for the inevitable. Then I felt it, the sharp, cold sting as the needle pierced my skin. It sent a shiver down my spine, but I bit my lip and stayed silent. It was over quickly, the nurse working with practiced efficiency. She pressed another cotton ball to the injection site and gently unwrapped my arm.
"All done," she said, her tone soothing. "You can rest now." With that, she packed up her supplies and left, leaving me alone again with my thoughts.
I lay back down on the bed, cradling my right hand with my left. The pain had already faded, leaving behind only a dull ache. I stared at the ceiling, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me, the confusion, the questions, the gnawing uncertainty that clung to every thought.
"Why
