They spoke of
their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the
military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon
when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by
describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window .
The man in the
other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be
broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window
overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while
children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst
flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the
distance.
As the man by the
window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the
room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon
the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other
man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the
gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks
passed.
One morning, the
day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body
of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was
saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it
seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the
window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was
comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully,
he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world
outside.
He strained to slowly
turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank
wall ..!!
The man asked the
nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such
wonderful things outside this window .
The nurse
responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said,
"Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
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