Caretakers who have been taught to think they're unkind and uncaring, some force intentional or not bowing them into stony silence, convinced of their awful nature, their apathy. A deep blunt worthlessness
Something happens with Whumpee and they do what little best they can until someone better and gentler can come see about them, but they finally arrive they don't understand why Whumpee clings to them or begs them to still stay.
They don't see the gentleness inherent to the very core of their soul as they try to blot away the heat of the fever with a damp cloth or the way they tuck the bedclothes around whumpee's shaking form.
They only hear the rasp of disuse in their voice, not the patience in each repetition of assuring whumpee's safety or the earnest care as they offer each sip of water.
They call it merely a duty of care to knead out the sharp cramps and dull aches of the fever, to brew the tea, to sit up the night. To read aloud, to hold their hand.
Do they not see that SweetCaretaker is here now? That there is no more need to cling to thorns? That they may now feel kindness?
