Nathan’s Notorious Fear
Throughout the entirety of his life, Nathan could not recall a time where he wasn’t petrified of needles and syringes. He would throw a tantrum as a child when he’d have to get vaccinated, and he’d run for his life when the doctor would determine Nathan’s requirement for antibiotic needles. This intense fear of his was very common, though not quite understood.
“Honestly, Nathaniel — you need to stop making such a fuss.” His mother would tut in disapproval every time.
So when the morbid time came for Nathan to take his COVID-19 vaccination, to say he was sweating buckets would be an understatement. He attempted to calm himself down as he took ragged breaths and his leg rapidly bounced in its place as he waited for his turn. The palpable nausea gradually grew, his eyes glaring heatedly at the clock, watching the seconds tick by at a painfully slow pace, mocking his trepidation.
“Nathaniel Green?” The nurse called out for his name, causing him to snap his head towards her in distress, and forced himself to swallow the bile that has risen up his throat.
His shaking knees knocked against each other as he attempted to stand, and his hand darted to the chair for support. Exhaling deeply as he fluttered his eyes shut, he mentally chanted words of encouragement to himself.
“Please follow me.” The nurse’s voice snapped him out of his personal pep-talk, and he involuntarily caught himself glaring venomously at the back of the nurse’s head. He forced his feet to move, and followed her lead.
“Right, you go ahead and have a seat while I prepare the syringe.” The nurse instructed, her hand gesturing to an empty chair in the corner of the room she ushered him into, and he gulped harshly.
“Is it going to hurt?” He asked, his voice trembling.
The nurse’s head snapped up towards him, diverting her attention away from the form he filled out that was clutched in her hand, and she furrowed her eyebrows.
“Well, it’ll only be a small prick … are you okay, boy? You’ve gone pale.” She remarked, her gaze softening into one of concern as she observed him.
“I’m just … not a big fan of needles.” He confessed, quickly glancing at her awkwardly and rubbing the back of his neck.
The nurse smiled in understanding, before holding his hand and gently moving him to the chair he was meant to be seated on.
“I can understand that. Needles are quite scary when you think about where it goes.”
Nathan nodded vigorously. “It’s mortifying have a pin get jabbed into my skin and puncture my vein. Does that even sound remotely normal to you? To willingly have a needle inject your vein?”
The nurse laughed amusedly as she picked up the syringe, and stared at him brightly. “Come to think of it, I suppose you make a fair point. But would you like to know what the best thing about vaccinations is?”
Nathan frowned. “I can hardly imagine anything good about them.”
The nurse shook her head as she smiled. “Vaccines don’t go anywhere near the vein. You will be absolutely fine.”
Nathan gazed at her with suspicion, unblinking. “It won’t kill me?”
“It won’t kill you.” She assured him.
Nathan proceeded to squirm uncomfortably in his seat as he hesitantly rolled the sleeve of his shirt up to expose his upper arm as the nurse inched closer to him, the needle ready in her hand.
“If it will help, you can close your eyes and take a deep breath.” She suggested.
Nathan immediately squeezed his eyes shut, his body tensing, and he held his breath.
“Picture yourself in your happy place.” The nurse spoke up, causing Nathan to immediately imagine himself sitting on a comfortable couch, a bowl of popcorn beside him, and holding a gaming console in his hand to play video games. His lips twitched up to form a peaceful smile. He was winning the game.
“Done!”
His eyes snapped open in perplexity, and he gazed at the nurse incredulously.
“What?” He spluttered.
“All done, Nathaniel. You may go home now, or go enjoy a cup of tea or something.” The nurse shrugged, already starting to prepare the next needle for the next patient.
“You … you already injected me?” He asked in disbelief.
The nurse finally caught his eye contact, and steadily responded, “Yes.”
Nathan blinked, still in utter shock by the fact that he couldn’t even feel the needle pricking him, before he slowly started making his way out, and quickly thanking the nurse, who just smiled at him in response. As Nathan began his journey back home, he recalled his massive fear of needles and syringes, and for the first time in his life, he felt like he finally had a chance to get over his fear once and for all.
