Lena's hands trembled as she pushed open the clinic door. The sharp scent of disinfectant stung her nose, and her stomach lurched when she spotted the flu shot sign hanging on the wall.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tbaHh7PAe
She had always hated needles.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLhDSCcFL2
When she was seven, she'd passed out getting a vaccination. Even now, twenty years later, just thinking about that cold, sharp pain made her throat tighten and her pulse race.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMyr5JMXvW
"Lena?" A nurse with kind eyes waved her over. "Ready for your shot?"
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPud4XsOUc
Lena swallowed hard. She wasn't ready—would she ever be?—but she nodded anyway.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIrywKkY0u
The nurse noticed her clenched fists. "Nervous?"
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIyS8jSXR5
"I don't like needles," Lena admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbfmMzICKC
The nurse nodded. "Then don't look. Take a deep breath for me." She pressed a small stress ball into Lena's hand. "Squeeze this as hard as you need to."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YFI3aPdtg
Lena focused on the ball, on the way it gave under her fingers. She inhaled—
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv9hcgBRPP
"All finished."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EAa65mhiV
Lena's eyes flew open. "That's it?"
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1LHvMM06m
The nurse chuckled. "That's it. The waiting is always worse than the shot itself."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFcqtRwP6d
Lena let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Maybe needles weren't so terrifying after all.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYhQxFPId2
At least, not this one.
ns216.73.216.6da2
