My Hidden Fear at Work

I never imagined I'd feel this way about my job. I've been a nurse for over a decade now, and you'd think by now the initial shock of seeing people in their most vulnerable states would have worn off. But every time I enter a room with someone who's clearly scared or alone, that familiar knot tightens up in my stomach again. It's like each person is carrying around this invisible weight, and I can feel it just walking into their space. The other day, while checking on an elderly patient, the sadness that came from seeing her struggle so much for something as simple as breathing nearly brought me to tears. And when she looked at me with those hollow eyes filled only with fear, it was like looking in a mirror of my own future. I guess what I'm trying to say is, while I try to be strong and supportive for them, inside I feel more broken every day.