The Limb That Grieved First

This narrative explores an early clinical encounter in which loss announced itself before diagnosis, through subtle spatial neglect rather than overt weakness. Written from a trainee perspective, the piece reflects on learning to notice absence, asymmetry, and quiet withdrawal in patient care before having the language or certainty to name them. The experience highlights how neurologic illness can unfold gradually and how clinical training often occurs in the space between observation and understanding. By attending to what precedes recognition, the essay reflects on how uncertainty, restraint, and careful noticing shape the formation of clinical judgment in neurology.