Presenting complaint
Female, early twenties, admitted to A&E with shortness of breath, irregular breathing
“Check O2 levels, pulse, does she look pale, does her skin look okay to you?”
Quick, check, ask, wait, ask again, re-assess, ask again, ask again, ask again
“Can you tell me your name? What date is it? What’s your date of birth?”

The clock ticks the same but time passes fast.

Consultants rush around in bumble-bee formation
Trying to get close to the source – but not too close - or else they might make it worse
Nurses and paramedics fill in the gaps of stripes, moving to the guidelines, approaching the source with equipment and behaviour which is dependent on the inverse situation.
Movements flow to the energy emitted by the source
Choreography is never scripted in this theatre
There are technicians taking the medication history with the pharmacist, muted, in the background
The lights set the background to a mellow maroon
Voices are getting more silent

People are being brought in the world with every tick.
People are experiencing their last breath with every other one.

Parenteral ammunition, strong input and pose.
IV druids, dripping at the rate of ‘La Vie En Rose’.

Until it becomes a black of nothingness.
A black of irreversible silence.

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