to the silent mentors

They left your rings on. Did you know that? I don't know how long you've been here, but however long it's been, they've left your fingers alone. I saw it. Don't worry. I didn't touch them. Today we did the anterior upper limb, so all of you were face up, with your muscles and your blood vessels and your nerves all bared for future living bodies I'll hold in my hands and you'll never get to see. I saw your brachial plexus. Your nerves I traced up until the cords because anything further up was still undissected, a secret you keep, until the next pair of scissors touches your flesh. They cut open your palms, and they left your fingers alone with the rings still on. It was the first time I ever felt sick in front of you. Thank you. I'm sorry. I always wonder what you were like in life. Perhaps it's a weakness, or a strength. I wonder how young you were. I wonder if you wanted to be here, if the formalin and the first year students was the fate you chose for yourself. I wonder if I would…