Swollen Arm

Alex watched the middle-aged man walk into the barrier and asked, "No one can see or hear us from the outside. You can tell me what is wrong here," he said.

The man nodded. "How long have you been working as a healer?" he asked. "I don't know if I can take advice from someone who hasn't been working that long."

"I have been doing this for about 50 years now. If you do not think I will be a fit for you, you can leave," Alex said.

The man thought for a bit and shook his head. "No, my issue is severe enough that I need to take my chances with you," he said. "Can I trust you to not reveal my problems to others?"

"Of course," Alex said. "This thing will remain between you and me. How can I help you?"

The man nodded and slowly rolled up his right sleeve which Alex only now noticed was unusually long. As he rolled it up, Alex saw what he had been hiding within it.