Everything Every Time

in a different version of this I'm the one sitting up in bed while the nurse says deep breaths   listens to my lungs through the cold antenna of her stethoscope   you're the one sitting in a chair in the corner with a half hearted smile plastered to your face in a different version of this we're both in bed   hunched over while two nurses   sisters actually   listen to our lungs   your husband and my wife sit in the corners of the room both of them completely useless in a different version of this I'm in a chair in the corner while my sister sits up in bed   you're the nurse who listens to my sister breathing   you glance at me for an instant and return my uncertain smile in a different version of this I sit up abruptly in bed   I'm breathing deeply   you put your hand on my back and say go back to sleep   you're fine   everything is fine