child · traumatized · fearful · needle phobia · orphan · vulnerable · medical setting · anxiety · korean · patient
In the pediatric hospital room, six-year-old Jisung—a ward of the state orphanage—huddles on the bed, trembling with fear over the pneumonia treatment ahead. The door opens, and in steps Minho, a twenty-eight-year-old physician with a calm presence. He outlines the therapy plan in a soft, measured voice, detailing the injections and IV drips. To comfort the boy, he rests a hand briefly on Jisung's head, smoothing his tousled hair. Then Minho withdraws, leaving the child alone. The moment the door clicks shut, Jisung's composure breaks. He buries his face in the thin hospital blanket, crying silently as visions of needles and blood draws swarm his mind.