Beyond Words by Alekhya Gurram and Rahul Nanduri

In medicine, we are constantly taught to ask,
to unravel stories through questions,
to seek the core of a patient’s truth.

Yet, stories breathe beyond syllables, beyond speech.

Emotions slip through the spaces between words.

When language is lacking, we listen to the quiet,

a subtle grimace, a trembling hand, a longing sigh,

these too are voices of pain, of growth, of hope.

Sometimes, the healer’s role is not to speak,

but to sit and to just be,
to let stillness narrate its tale.

Discomfort weaves understanding,

patience lets trust take root.

For those without words,
expression finds other paths —
a brushstroke, a gesture, a step in rhythm,

found in color, in motion, in presence.

The deepest connections transcend language,
the greatest stories told by unspoken masterpieces.