Sugars

At follow-up the day after surgery, there are at least 
      two new faces in the clinic— one of them takes your
pulse, fishing an old-fashioned watch out of her pocket
      instead of using a phone timer, like the others do.
Given that you've had nothing to eat or drink since the day
      before, perhaps it shouldn't have been surprising 
that before the lab technician can get her vials ready,
      you blanch pale and clammy. The other new nurse— tall 
and young, with high cheekbones— runs to the break room 
      to rummage through their lunches, returning with 
a bottle of apple juice. It's almost miraculous, how simple 
      sugars quickly bring you back from the verge of losing
consciousness— here in this examination room with no
      windows and not even a fainting couch in sight.