Recommended Citation
Gonzalez, Melissa
(2025)
"The Crystal House of the Valley,"
be Still: Vol. 10, Article 13.
Available at:
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/bestill/vol10/iss1/13
Included in
Creative Writing Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Medical Humanities Commons, Photography Commons
About the Artist
I’m a medical student who believes in the quiet power of being present. My experiences as a Cuban immigrant and hospital volunteer have shaped how I approach care—with empathy, attention, and deep respect for every story shared with me. Whether sitting at a patient’s bedside, painting through the silence, or listening to dreams beyond illness, I’ve learned that healing begins with presence. In medicine, I hope to carry that same spirit forward: to see people fully, meet them where they are, and offer care that feels both human and whole.