Story of two convalescing patients with a window

[digitalera]

Dear Avid readers,

I am looking for a source of a story of two patients convalescing in the same room, but one is near a window and is always telling the other patient of the wonderful things taking place outside. This aids the second patient, giving them hope and recuperation.

However, upon the death of the window occupant, the second patient becomes aware of the fact that outside the window there is nothing but a desolate land or a wall.

Hence the first patient was giving hope to the second by false information.

Does any one know of a source or a story like this?

I've seen it twice in a short, one year apart and I'm assuming that this storyline has a real root and author.

Thanks.

Warmly,

Shamil

[JoeyHarps123]

i have never heard that.

[mona amon]

Your outline of the story sounds very familiar, digitalera. I'm sure I've read it, but like you I can't remember what it's called or who it's by. I think it may be a story of O Henry's. It sounds like something he'd think of.

[query]

sounds a little like richard yates's hospital stories, although i can't think of one exactly like that.

[digitalera]

Thanks for the few replies. If any one still knows the source, I'd welcome their input. Thanks.

Still looking.

[Ivy Rose]

I, too, thought it was an O Henry (The Last Leaf), but I've confused the similar story lines.

I'll keep an eye out for the story you seek. I know I've read it before, and just can't remember where, when, nor by whom. <shaking head> Gettin' old or something.

[Janine]

I heard the story before also. I almost want to say it was something that people forwarded on the internet to me; but it maybe a well know author who wrote it. I will have to see if I recall where I did hear of it. I don't think I read it in a book or collection. Now you have me curious. Wasn't the one patient blind? Maybe the title has 'blind' in it; although, that would be giving away the story's idea too soon.

edit: Hi digitalera, I just did some quite internet detective work and I found the story. It's author is unknown. Here is the story:

An Inspirational Story, Motivational Story

The Hospital Window
by Author Unknown

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 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 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 have compelled 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."

I believe awhile back it circulated around the internet via emails...those inspirational ones.

[codfish192]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfdietrich_Schnurre

Beste Geschichte meines Lebens

I know this story from a place on the internet, where someone translated it from german into a language that I understand and credited it to this men.That's all i know.