The Window
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Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same
hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in
his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the

fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the
room's only window. The other man had to spend
all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of
their wives and families, their homes, their
jobs, their involvement in the military service,
where theyhad 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 havecompelled
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."