The nurse is officed in a brick cottage in a part of campus you didn’t know existed, northwest corner, uphill. And it’s not a large campus. Seems like no one wants to think about their bodies.

She puts a stethoscope against your chest and asks you questions. She instructs you to breathe in. Hold. Let it go. Again. One more time. You do your best, don’t complain, downplay the strain it takes to do it. You wince, but laugh.

My best guess is pleurisy, she says. Inflammation of the lining of the lungs. You likely have something working its way out in there, rubbing against your pleura; this hurts, makes it hard to breathe. She says it will be fine, these things take care of themselves; she gives you Advil for the pain.

🩸 Tell the nurse you’d like an X-ray.

🩸 Tell the nurse thanks and goodbye.