The Night Shift
He pressed the hospital call button several times.
It was the middle of the night.
The corridor was wrapped in silence, broken only by the steady beep of the machines. The pain came in waves—strong, raw, the kind that makes faith falter for a few seconds.
He was alone.
No visitors.
No company.
No one.
He pressed the button again.
Nothing.
He tried once more, his hand trembling.
Nothing.
Desperation mixed with fear. The pain seemed to grow, and the feeling of abandonment weighed heavier than the physical suffering. Just as he was about to give up, the door to the room slowly opened.
A nurse walked in.
She moved with an unusual calm for that hour. Her face was serene, her gaze gentle. Her uniform drew attention—simple, old-fashioned, as if from another time.
She didn’t introduce herself.
She didn’t ask his name.
She didn’t question his pain.
She simply smiled.
With delicate movements, she adjusted his pillow, placed her hand on his forehead, and administered a medication he never saw where it came from. Then she began to sing.
It was a soft melody, gentle, almost like a prayer.
Little by little, the pain faded.
His body relaxed.
The fear disappeared.
Before leaving, she leaned closer and said in a calm, reassuring voice:
“Rest. You are not alone.”
The door closed silently.
When the sun rose, he woke up different.
Without pain.
At peace.
As soon as the medical team entered for the shift change, he thanked them emotionally:
“Thank you for the nurse who came in during the night.”
The head nurse frowned.
“What nurse?”
“The one who took care of me… she was here.”
Silence filled the room.
They went to the security camera room. They reviewed the exact time from the night.
The room was empty.
No one entered.
No badge was recorded.
No door was opened.
Only… a soft white light appeared in the room for a few minutes…
and then disappeared.
The doctor took a deep breath and said quietly:
“There are things that don’t appear in medical charts.”
Some say she was from the Phalanx of Mary.
Others believe she was part of the spiritual team of Dr. Bezerra de Menezes.
But one thing is certain:
Not all care comes with a badge.
Not all healing comes from Earth.
And in the loneliest hours of the night…
heaven also works the night shift.
