“You may enter the room now, sir.” A pause.

“Sir...Daniel?”

I was off in my own little world, oblivious of the kind voice speaking to me.

“I’m sorry,” I offered, snapping back into the current reality. My eyes focused on the receptionist, a warm, middle-aged woman, smiling understandably at me.

“Martha’s ready for you now,” she motioned to the open examining room as an elderly woman stepped out and offered her goodbyes to the doctor.

She proceeded to the reception desk as I stood to make my way from the waiting room.

“Thank you. I’m sorry about that. I’ve just been very preoccupied lately.”

The receptionist gave me another warm...