The ER Is a Small World.

I was in the emergency room getting seen by a doctor when I heard a voice on the other side of the curtain that I recognized immediately. It’s one of those voices and cadences that is unmistakable. I knew one hundred percent it was my buddy from the gym, Daniel.

I pulled the curtain back and said, hey, what’s up man. The doctor I was working with wasn’t having it. He told me I wasn’t supposed to be talking to other patients through the curtains. But it was already done at that point. Daniel hadn’t realized yet that I was the one talking to him, so I waited a few moments and then said his name again. Daniel.

I could see this doctor getting more frustrated, gritting his teeth a little. Then Daniel responded, Angel, is that you. And we started chatting through the curtain.

Most of the people I dealt with in the ER that day were pretty cool. This particular doctor was the exception. He had this energy like he was too cool for school. Some arrogance and snobbishness to him that I picked up on right away. I didn’t care for the guy much, so when I called Daniel’s name the second time, it was partly to spite him because he was annoying me.

My wife, who is the sweetest person in the world, felt the same way. She told me his energy was off too, so it wasn’t just me being difficult. The guy just wasn’t cool. Everything he said was condescending and just rubbed me the wrong way. So yeah, I gave him a little bit of a hard time.