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
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 colour 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 colour 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.