One Exhausted Phlebotomist One Caramel Latte and the Small Act That Lit Up a Dingy Room

I'm in Quest Diagnostics for blood tests for the second day. On day one, after July 4th, the wait was too long. There was only one phlebotomist on duty. She was very nice despite being stressed out, but I had a competing appointment, so I left.

Going back the next day, the same woman was single-handedly running the whole office, and she continued to be nice, gently calling people "my love" despite the array of patients, some very needful. As she finished taking my blood, I realized she was exhausted, and I asked her if she needed coffee.

Her mouth said no, but her eyes and her and her demeanor said, "Oh God, yes! I said, I'm getting you a coffee, what do you love? She said just a simple black coffee. I said, "out with it, do you like lattes? She smiled sheepishly and said, "caramel latte." "Venti with extra cream", I replied. She, looked down shyly and said said, "yea".

So off Rifky and I went to get this deserving, total stranger a huge container of rich caffeinated sweetness and a side of unadorned Doritos. We made her day, and boy Yovel, you could see the light glow in that dingy, yellowed office.