Room 508 OS

"How's my favorite patient today..."? He pulled the chart from the base of the bed and read the nurses notes. "...I'll be back in a minute". His wife sat silently next to the couple hugging the lady while he left the room.

"What have you been up to today?", the patients wife asked her.

"Nothing much, we just walked through the park near the fountain".

There was a world of excitement in her voice as she brought the colorful world into the dismal room. Her hands moved rapidly as she painted the picture for them; the masses of people, the street performers, the music students practicing a violin concerto, the children running around. He noticed how she was listening with full attention although her eyes still had the anxiety in the back of them. He thought she had finally diverted her but the sneaky glances to the door escaped him. Her pulse accelerated as the doctor entered the room with the latest reports. "Good and not so good news again, counts were improving but we are not quite out of the woods yet".

She was always an open book to him and his eyes darkened in response. Slowly, ever so slowly she brought his hands down. "Goodnight darling, rest up I will see you soon", she said walking slowly away. He looked at her as she smiled at him "Anderson is waiting". His eyes were fighting to stay open. She waited in the shadows till they drifted to a close then walked slowly to give him a kiss on his forehead before leaving. The nurse looked up from the rerun of the royal wedding. "To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do us part" was playing in the background. Room 508's wife was leaving. The nurse smiled at her.


The streets were dark as she headed to the car park. The cold weather permeated to her bones as she drove to their house. Entering the empty house she immediately turned on the TV to eclipse the silence that filled her life these days and the voice of Anderson Cooper on CNN reporting the daily news filled the space. She checked the answering machine wistfully, no messages. Coiling herself in a bundle she settled on the sofa with her shawl wrapped tightly and watched the news disinterestedly.


The warm breeze felt so good after the harsh Toronto winter. Limbs tangled on the extra large beach towel under the huge beach umbrella. Empty glasses of mock tails and snacks littered the side table. This was her favorite pose while sleeping. Enveloped in his arms in this idyllic setting, she had a smile on her face as she watched the waves lapping the shores. Sort of like me, she thought, constantly seeking more and more and more. He slept contently where as she was just savoring this joyous surprise. He had walked in on Thursday and hurriedly packed their bags. No idea where they were going and for how long. She pestered him all the way to the airport to find out. He was good with surprises like that. Her reactions always filled him with an abundance of joy. She smiled as she remembered how she had flung herself in his arms at the airport when she had found out about the beach vacation. He had lifted her high into his arms in the middle of the airport.

Jaan, she squeezed him really hard just as the shrieking sound of her alarm buzzed. She woke up sweating and closed her eyes tightly willing for the dream to continue. Heaving a deep sigh, she joined her hands in prayer then opened them again thanking the Lord for this day that he was still with her. With a new determination to make every day count she walked to the closet thinking of what he would like to see her in. She picked the colorful scarf he had picked out for her on that long ago beach vacation and tied that little bit of happiness around her as she headed out towards the hospital again.