Beyond the white coat: A symphony of love

Before my marriage, I had only a few faint wrinkles and a handful of graying strands on my head which started in my early 30s. Back then, the signs of age were minimal, but my beloved, who later became my wife, was captivated by both, believing they added to my allure and wisdom. This perception lessened my own reservations about them, even though deep down, I hated them and felt their weight as unwelcome guests who arrived prematurely. When I was younger, much younger, I used to pour my heart into writing romantic poems for any girl I adored. Knowing that girls appreciate romantic poems, I couldn’t resist inundating my beloved with these heartfelt expressions. Here’s a snippet of the first poetry I composed exclusively for her: (modified to rhyme) With wrinkles etched, gray strands adorning, My love for you, undying, keeps soaring. In my heart’s young chamber, pure and true, Forever beats love that’s meant for you. She replied in one sentence: “I love you, your gray hair and your wrinkles.” Read: Dr. Jabir Jassam: Coming soon: MEDiocre Healthcare During a certain period of time, my beloved became busy, preoccupied, and I felt her attention wane toward me, along with our once eagerly anticipated moments together. This realization pained me profoundly. One of her friends said with a smile that: “Maybe she doesn’t want to be with a gray-haired man.” Even though I didn’t believe what she said, I still felt sad. In the midst of sensing my beloved’s increasing detachment and indifference, I poured my emotions into a heartfelt poem, using its verses to express my gentle reproach for her growing distance. With a heavy heart, I wrote: (modified to rhyme) Since my gray hair came, you started to stray, Away from me, as my wrinkles came into play. You no longer hold my presence dear, My dates, once valued, now disappear. But, I still hold hope in my heart, You reside within me, never to depart. Within my soul, your love finds its abode, Enduring, despite the wrinkles that erode. Then we embarked on our journey of marriage, and I was blessed to experience the most enchanting days of my life. Time has passed, yet it feels as if we exchanged vows just yesterday, as if the decades that have elapsed are mere fleeting moments. Through the years, I would often find myself repeating the same words to my beloved wife, “I love you despite my wrinkles” then I say “It’s truly remarkable how my strands of gray hair have never changed, and my wrinkles have never increased.” In response, her radiant smile would illuminate the room, as she softly whispered, “I’m glad you think so, but remember, in my eyes, my love, even if you get wrinkled or your silver grows, I find you more captivating with each passing year.” My wife is the orchestrator of my entire life, meticulously selecting every aspect, even down to my eyeglasses. She buys me new pairs from time to time, but she noticed a peculiar pattern: I kept changing my prescription, shifting from -1 to -2 in a short period. However, in the past two years, my numbers de-escalated with alarming speed, reaching a disheartening -3.5. It was then that she lovingly insisted I consult an eye specialist, hoping to unravel the mystery behind this rapid deterioration. Though I stubbornly claimed that my graying hair and deepening wrinkles were unaffected, I admitted to her that the merciless running years are behind the deterioration of my vision. Finally, I visited an optometrist who, recognizing the severity, referred me to a surgeon who skillfully fixed my vision, and after enduring days of exhaustion and treatment, an astonishing miracle awaited me—I could scarcely believe my eyes. It was as if I had been granted a glimpse into my youthful self, vibrant and full of life. As I regained my strength following the surgery, I stood before the mirror, gently combing my hair, preparing to return to work after days of absence. In that moment, a profound revelation struck me—all my hair is gray and my wrinkles are covering my face. Overwhelmed, I hurriedly ran to my wife, declaring that the arduous journey of the surgery had seemingly deepened my wrinkles and increased my gray hair. Her laughter, tender and filled with affection, enveloped the room as she spoke, “Darling, your wrinkles have never stopped growing, and your hair is gray for many years . But you couldn’t see them until now, when your vision has been restored to behold the world’s unfiltered truth. Yet, I love you despite your wrinkles.” Note: This article is dedicated to Dr. Darrell Lewis who made me see my wrinkles and gray hair more clearly. Dr. Jabir Jassam is a family physician in Ottawa.

Beyond the white coat: A symphony of love

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