A Blue Reality

That Time of Year

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Oh, gosh dang it! It's that time of year again, flu season, and Alina's in for a little shot.

💙

~

It was that dreaded time of year.

Again.

Blue Health was alive, ready with open arms to welcome in the changing of seasons. The beginning of fall was always special, well-received with the promise of pretty changing colors, cozy pumpkin delights, and sweater weather. Summer was gone and autumn, with all its festive and seasonal wonders, was happily knocking on Blue Health's door.

However, something else, too, was knocking on their door.

The flu.

It was flu season again, and Blue Health was no exception to the annual bug that always loved to make itself sickly known. The hospital was in full swing, abuzz with giving out the yearly vaccinations and check-ups to ward off the bug. Several clinics, including Blue Health's Research Unit, had been stocked and prepped with vaccines to give out. There was a growing list of patients and folks that came in daily, hopeful to get their shot before the flu beat them to it.

On that list, Alina Freeze was bolded and underlined.

Dr. William, very early on before the season started, had already decided she'd be getting the flu shot. It was a common vaccine, but according to her records, would be the first of many. Neither doctor were surprised, her file blank and missing several important vaccines she'd been neglected from receiving. There was some major catching up to do.

They'd start with the flu shot, though.

On the morning it was decided she get it, Dr. William had explained to her what would be happening. He was considerate in how to breached the topic with her, hoping some background on its simplicity and why she needed it would reassure her they were about to do a very good thing. You won't get sick, he'd said.

"No, thank you," she refused.

"Alina, you're going to be fine," he chuckled.

"You don't know that."

"Sweetie, please."

Alina frowned at the clipboard he had. "Not happening."

"Why?"

Alina shrugged. "Because, I don't need it." Because I've been fine without it for all my life. The flu has never gotten me before, so why will it now? Aren't we in a hospital, anyways?  It can't get me here.

"Alina," he started. "You've never had a flu shot before. As your doctor–!"

"One of my doctors," she corrected.

"As one of your doctors, I do recommend this vaccine. It won't hurt and it'll be over before you know it. Please, baby."

Alina exhaled. "You recommend this vaccine because you're my doctor, one of them, or because you've an obligation now, as my legal guardian and caregiver?"

"Both."

He was her doctor, one of her primary physicians, and he wanted only what was best for her. The flu shot would benefit her greatly. True, it wouldn't completely prevent her from picking up the flu, but it would greatly reduce the possibility. The shot would also give her a fighting chance against it if she did somehow get it and help build resistance against it. As her caregiver, her Daddy, he'd do anything to keep her well and from any discomfort. The flu could pack a mean  wallop when it wanted. The thought of Alina suffering because of the flu didn't sit well with him. For his well-being, but mostly Alina's, the shot was necessary.