She told me she was O.K.

and all I could do was believe her.

I could see the gentle alarm in her eyes

as she moved in

to give me a hug, she told me she was alright,

that this was a small thing, a simple job

for the Doctor to take of, that my worries

for her were, obviously,

quite natural but nevertheless

one born out of close bonds

and soldering on,

such is her way, such is the love

that I have for her

that I cannot help but be scarred myself,

perhaps that is why,

she moved unashamedly to hug me

when she told me the news,

she was alright, despite it all,

but she could see

that I wasn’t.

Ian D. Hall 2017