“So the doctor has requested that I administer two pencillin injections to kick start treatment for your infection. I'm going to do one in your thigh and the other in your bottom. My experience is that patients tend to feel less discomfort that way. Do you have any questions before we start?" You shake your head and look tentatively down at my black stocking covered legs and I smooth my uniform dress down under the plastic disposable apron I'm wearing. “I'm going to start by cleaning your thigh area with some alcohol, it's very cold. Sorry about that.”

Ok are you ready? I hold the syringe up and roll it between my hands briefly to warm it a little. Next you see me flicking the barrel to remove the air bubbles. Some of the milky coloured serum oozes out a tiny bit. It's very thick, like white glue.

I push the needle against your thigh slowly and watch as your flesh seems to back away from the cold hard metal as though it already knows what is about to happen. It seems like an eternity before the needle punctures your skin and sinks into your plump thigh. I continue to push until the needle is deeply into your muscle. You don't know whether to look away or not.

I grasp the syringe wrapping my gloved hand around the plunger and slowly begin to depress. I hear you take a sharp intake of breath. I don't think you were expecting it to burn so much. I look up and smile. I can see your eyes beginning to water….