No. 7 – The Injections

By Nandhini G. Natarajan

 

The little girl contracted an infection

and needed daily injections

for a whole year.

Her aunt,

a doctor

brought the injections home.

 

Every evening,

the girl laid on her side scared,

and she whimpered.

But she stopped crying

when everyone said,

what a brave girl she was,

and she felt proud.

 

A game soon evolved

around the girl’s shots,

which she hated.

After she was injected,

Aunt would pretend

to inject her brother,

his eyes looked so big

when he was scared.

But he was quickly

reassured,

and embraced.

 

The little girl would stand

rubbing her butt.

She would cry.

Look at me; it hurts

 I’m so brave!

But no one heard.

Her scream was inside.

She was silent.

She was invisible.