One of the things medicine has taught me is how little we really know about what another person is carrying. I've met people who seem calm and composed while they're waiting to be seen. They make polite conversation. They apologise for taking up time. They tell you they're fine. Then, as they begin to talk, another picture starts to emerge. You hear about the grief they've been trying to manage, the fear they've kept hidden from their family, the exhaustion that has become so normal they barely recognise it anymore. There have been moments throughout my career that have stopped me in my tracks and reminded me how easy it is to misunderstand one another when we're only seeing the version of someone they feel able to show the world. I don't always get this right myself, but I try to remember that people rarely reveal the full extent of what they're going through at first glance. A little more patience and a little more curiosity can go a long way. Has there ever been a time in your ...