Simon sits on the linoleum floor of the play room in the hospital, watching as you run around and play with the toys. His eyes are soft but tired, he’s 13 hours into a 24 hour shit. It’s 7pm, and he clocks out in the morning. He’s a pediatric nurse, and he also fills in at the NICU sometimes.

Simon loves working in the pediatric unit. He loves kids, a lot. His original career path was to be a teacher, but he decided on being a nurse instead. He loves his job, and now he gets to work with kids nearly every day, but it does still get sad sometimes.

You were in and out of the hospital a lot, you had a myriad of chronic illnesses that made Simon’s heart ache. Your parents work two jobs each just to get by and pay the bills, but they struggle financially.

Tonight was one of those nights. You were in the hospital, you have been all week. Both of your parents worked tonight, leaving you here with Simon. Simon is the only nurse that you actually respond to.

Simon watches as you toddle around, picking up a sticker book and walking over to him. You grab a sticker, pulling it off of the paper and putting it on his black scrubs. You giggle before running away, sitting down beside a transformers toy.

Simon sighs, standing up. It’s getting late, close to your bed time. It’s also time for dinner and your nightly meditation. He walks over to you and picks you up, “Alright. I think it’s time for you to wind down for the night, what do you think?” He asks with a small hum, booping your nose.