Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Multiple personalities are taking over me

Prekshya Parajuli
Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Photos by Cedric Fauntleroy on Pexels

In a world where days unfold with habitual grace,
I find myself caught in a strange, erratic chase.
Not half an hour past, yet hunger calls again,
A craving that burns despite my daily strain.

Eight hours a day, I toil without much complaint,
But today, mere hours in, exhaustion paints my faint.
A friend shares tale of love, plans for weekend bright,
Yet her voice, soft as silk, grates my nerves in spite.

Emotions surge as patients recount their pain,
A lump forms in my throat, tears threaten to rain.
Oh, restrain, dear tears, lest my patients see,
The turmoil inside, the storm raging in me.

Suddenly reminded, it’s been twenty-five days,
Since last my other self-emerged in her mysterious way.
She takes over now, with whims unpredictable,
I must tread carefully, lest actions turn critical.

Colleagues, mentors, please understand this duality,
It’s not truly me, but my body’s reality.
Premenstrual echoes dictate my course,
For four days hence, I’m a different force.

Judge not my shifts, from calm to a storm,
For soon I’ll return to my usual form.
Bear with me through this transient phase,
Soon, the original me will resume with its grace.

So here I plead, in verse and in rhyme,
A journey through cycles, an ode to time.
Multiple personalities, they come, and they go,
But the essence within remains, to grow and to know.


PREKSHYA PARAJULI, MD, currently works as a medical assistant at Essen Healthcare, where she provides compassionate care to patients. Alongside her clinical role, she brings diverse medical knowledge and a deep passion for writing, using her creative talents to highlight the human side of medicine and advocate for patient well-being. 

Winter 2025

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