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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/kittybatpurrs on 2026-01-14 08:31:01+00:00.
i work registration in an emergency room (the guy who checks you in at the front and gets your demographics and insurance at the back). and today a lady in her mid-60s in room X was here for hypertension and a fall. I asked if A (a friend) and B (brother) were still her emergency contacts. she said, "yes, B still is, but... A just passed" and she immediately teared up. i quickly said my condolences and finished up registration since she slowly started welling up in more tears.
i'm so awkward when people cry so the best thing for both of us is for me to skedaddle, and so i said "i hope you feel better, take care," and left. she started actually crying when i left the room. about an hour later, i overheard from the nurses that "room X's best friend just died last week," and that her fall was due to her not eating properly because of her grief. and then it clicked why she started crying so hard.
i felt so bad asking about her emergency contacts after that, and i really hope she starts to feel better
tl;dr i accidentally made a lady cry doing my job
edit: y'all, I know I was just doing my job but it doesn't make me feel any less bad! i am extremely empathetic for my patients so it just sucks when i strike a nerve on accident, y'know?