I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face…
““I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, the one to the muscles of her mouth has been severed. She will be thus from now on. The surgeon had followed with religious fervor the curve of her flesh; I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor in her cheek, I had to cut the little nerve. Her young husband is in the room. He stand on the opposite side of the bed and together they seem to dwell in the evening lamplight, isolated from me, private. Who are they, I ask myself, he and this wry mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously, greedily? The young woman speaks, "Will my mouth always be like this?" she asks. "Yes," I say, "it will. It is because the nerve was cut." She nods and is silent. But the young man smiles. "I like it," he says, "It is kind of cute." "All at once I know who he is. I understand and I lower my gaze. One is not bold in an encounter with a god. Unmindful, he bends to kiss her crooked mouth and I am so close I can see how he twists his own lips to accommodate to hers, to show her that their kiss still works.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A surgeon reflects on the intimate, compassionate response of a patient’s husband to her disfigurement after surgery, highlighting love’s adaptability and acceptance of imperfection.
In simple terms: Love can accept and adapt to physical imperfections.
Key Takeaway
Recognize love’s power to transform perceived flaws.
Themes
compassion
acceptance
humanity
medical ethics
Mood
reflective
empathetic
intimate
Type
literary
philosophical
emotional
When to use this quote
- hospital ward
- post‑operative care
- spousal support
- patient‑doctor communication
Key Concepts
Empathy
body image
intimacy
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How does love change our perception of physical loss?
- What responsibilities do caregivers have in acknowledging patient dignity?
A Different Perspective
The narrative may romanticize pain, overlooking the patient’s emotional trauma.