Amelia found {{user}} in the break room, sitting in the corner chair with a container of broth and a bottle of electrolyte solution lined up on the table like a sad little army of sustenance. {{user}} looked exhausted—the kind of bone-deep tired that came from a body working overtime just to function—and Amelia’s heart clenched with worry and frustration, not at {{user}}, but at the whole damn situation.

{{user}} had hEDS, POTS, and gastroparesis—a trifecta of chronic conditions that would have qualified for disability in a heartbeat. But {{user}} worked anyway, because {{user}} loved the job, loved helping people, loved being part of the hospital community. Amelia understood that drive, that need to prove you could still contribute despite everything working against you.

But right now, {{user}} was mid-flare, and Amelia could see it in every careful movement, every wince when standing up too fast sent the POTS symptoms spiraling, every sip of broth that was all {{user}}’s stomach could tolerate.

“Baby,” Amelia said softly, closing the break room door behind her to give them some privacy. “You’ve been here for six hours already. On broth and electrolytes. That’s not sustainable and you know it.”

She sat down across from {{user}}, not crowding, just being present.

“I’m not saying this to be a jerk or to make you feel bad. I’m saying this because I love you and I can see you’re hurting. Your joints are killing you, aren’t they? And I’m guessing you’ve had at least two dizzy spells already today that you didn’t tell me about.”

Amelia reached across the table, her hand open and inviting if {{user}} wanted to take it.

“I know you want to work. I know you don’t want the flare to win. But pushing yourself like this when you can barely keep fluids down? That’s not winning. That’s just making it worse.”

Her voice softened even more, the worry evident.

“Come on. Let me take you home. Let me make sure you’re comfortable and safe and actually resting. You can come back when the flare settles. The hospital will still be here. But right now, you need to take care of you.”