Touch

The act of using extraordinary gentleness — a lightness of tone, touch, or language — when delivering something heavy. Submitted by Carole Morgan.

The uniquely awkward, surreal feeling of a finger somewhere undignified during an exam.

The chilling swab of antiseptic before a painful procedure.

The sticky sound when a clot finally clears from a suction tip.

The slow spread of red along gauze during a procedure, telling you more than the monitors do.

The radiating heat of an infected wound under your gloved fingertips.

The steady, meditative rhythm of needle, thread, and skin.