Hospital Room

The room echoed with the sound of weak, ragged breathing and a steady beep.  Richard lay in the bed, the sheets barely moving as his chest fought for air.  His eyes were closed in restless sleep.

The door opened and closed quietly, the chair next to the bed squeaked, and a hand grasped Richard's.  It was several minutes before the eyelids fluttered open, and he turned his head slightly to see who it was.

"Visiting hours already?"  His voice was low and gravelly with age.  The woman smiled at him.

"How are you feeling today, Richard?"

He turned his eyes back to the ceiling, searching for the answer there.  "It has ceased to be amuse.  If you know what I mean."  The side of his mouth twitched in amusement.

"Yes, I know.  You have been too long in this hospital bed, I think.  It doesn't suit you." She smiled again.

Rasping breathing filled the room again for several minutes.  The woman traced the veins on the back of Richard's hand.  They stood out like roots, blue and trembling with his pulse. 

"You know, Richard, I think it's time to get up."

"Get up?  But...but I'm sick..."  He muttered feebly, shifting beneath the sheets.

"I think that getting up is just what you need right now.  It's time to get up, Richard.  Let's walk."  She stood and moved toward the door, then turned back, waiting.

Richard lay there, staring at the ceiling, muttering any excuse he could until his mouth ran out.  "Aye.  I think...I think I want to get up..."

"Then get up, Richard."

He pushed himself weakly to a sit, then began pulling off the wires.  Blood pressure monitor...brain wave detector...the straps around his chest to help him breathe...the tube at his neck for the dialysis machine...and last of all, he drew the IV needle slowly from his arm.  He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood.  

He wobbled on his feet before taking a careful step.  Like a child, one step at a time, he made his way to the door.  With each step, his back straightened more and the lines on his face fell away.

"There, that wasn't so hard, was it?"  She reached for his arm and tucked her hand into his elbow.

"No...no it wasn't.  I feel much better already."  He smiled down at her.

"Well, shall we go?"

With a last glance at the bed, he turned to the door and stepped confidently away.  

As the door shut behind them, the body in the bed ceased moving.  The chest stopped pulling at the sheets.  The steady beep turned into a single tone.