I allowed a patient* to repeatedly hit me. I mean proper hits. Slapping, punching, and grabbing. Fortunately for me, they were of an age and frailty, where no damage was done. No physical damage at least. It didn't occur to me until afterward that I had had multiple opportunities to walk away. To literally leave the situation, but I didn't. I didn't start crying until they (for no apparent reason) grabbed open my uniform. That was when the tears came. The hitting? No real emotional effect but the opening of my clothes without my consent? Completely different story.
It reminded me of him.
*this person suffers from mental illness, I hold no resentment or blame towards them.
