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Encouragement
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Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.
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One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon
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to help drain the fluid from his lungs.
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His bed was next to the room’s only window.
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The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
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Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up,
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he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things
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he could see outside the window.
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The man in the other bed began to live for those onehour periods
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where his world would be broadened and enlivened
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by all the activity and color of the world outside.
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The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.
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Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.
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Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow.
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Grand old trees graced the landscape,
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and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
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As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail,
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the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes
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and imagine the picturesque scene.
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Days and weeks passed.
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One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths
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only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window,
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who had died peacefully in his sleep.
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When all was arranged, the other asked if he could be moved next to the window.
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The nurse made the switch.
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Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow
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to take his first look at the world outside.
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Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself.
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He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
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It faced a blank wall.
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The nurse said: “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”