FATE ON THE HOSPITAL BED
Miss, you can take care of him! I cant even come near him, let alone feed him with a spoon, the woman snapped, dropping a carrier bag of groceries onto the bed where her ill husband lay.
Please dont worry so much! Your husband will get better. He just needs a bit of careful nursing right now. Ill help Henry get back on his feet, I reassured Marilyn, the wife of the man suffering from tuberculosis. It wasnt the first time Id had to calm her down in my role as a nurse.
Henry had arrived in a terrible state, but his chances were still good. He wanted to live, which is half the battle won. Unfortunately, Marilyn didnt have much faith in the NHS or medicine at all. It always seemed shed already given up on Henry, resigning herself to the worst.
I should say, years later their son, Peter, also fell ill with advanced tuberculosis. Marilyn wrote him off immediately as well, yet Peter made a full recovery.
Despite his condition, Henry was full of quips and laughter, eager to leave the sanatorium as quickly as possible. Marilyn rarely visited, since their home village had no specialist hospital and shed have to travel all the way to London. I often felt sorry for Henry. His hair was unkempt, his clothes thin and worn he simply looked forgotten.
Henry, would you mind if I brought you a few things? Ive noticed youve no slippers, only your shoes. Would you accept a little care parcel? I teased gently.
From you, Violet, Id accept poison as medicine. But honestly, you dont need to bring me anything. Let me heal first, and then well talk, Henry answered softly, giving my hand a grateful squeeze.
I gently withdrew my hand and slipped from the room. My heart was racing. Was I falling in love? No, I couldnt break up a family, that wouldnt be right. Nothing good could come of it. Still, you cant command the heart. It never listens to reason. Oh well in at the deep end
I found myself drifting toward Henrys ward more and more often, enjoying our long, heartfelt conversations during my night shifts. Before long, wed dropped all formalities and were on first-name terms.
Henry had a five-year-old son back at home.
My Peter takes after Marilyn shes a beauty. You know, Violet, I really did love Marilyn. I would have laid the world at her feet. Shes a passionate woman, truly a whirlwind in all ways but she loves only herself. That sort of selfishness eats at you worse than acid. And now, here you are, a complete stranger, caring for me, he sighed.
But Marilyns so far away. It isnt easy for her to keep making the trip, I tried to defend his wife.
Come off it, Violet! As the saying goes, a wife loved her husband so much, she bought herself a seat in prison just to visit. Yet she still finds time to get to her lover, living at the far end of the country. Ive heard rumours Henry said bitterly.
Good night, Henry. Dont do anything rash things will turn out all right, I said, switching off the light and leaving him to rest.
Undoubtedly, Henry was suffering. Helpless in hospital, while his wife enjoyed herself elsewhere. It wasnt life or death, perhaps, but anyone can drown in a puddle if theyre already on the ground.
A week later, I heard shouting from his ward and dashed in.
If I ever see you in here again, you trollop! Get out of my sight! Henry was shouting at Marilyn, who fled the room in shock.
What happened? I asked, taken aback.
Henry turned his face to the wall, trembling under his blanket. I ended up giving him something to calm his nerves.
…A month went by, and Marilyn hadnt visited once.
Henry, shall I ring your wife? I ventured.
No, thank you, Violet. Its over between Marilyn and me were getting a divorce, he replied, steady and calm.
Because of your illness? But youre recovering! I couldnt hide my surprise.
Do you remember when I sent her packing? She only came to mention her lover, said shed like him to live in our house after all, Im barely here. She needed a man about the house; the roofs leaking, you see Henry trailed off.
Thats dreadful! was all I could say.
Worse still, Marilyn came by again, this time with a man waiting on a bench outside, smoking nervously. I could see everything from the window. Marilyn came out an hour later, kissed the man on the cheek, said something that made him laugh, and off they went together.
Henry, youre being discharged, I announced.
Violet, may I ask you something? Actually, never mind Henry hesitated.
Yes, Henry, Id say yes to whatever you ask. Was that what you meant? I hope Ive read you right, I said, suddenly bold.
Henry opened up: Violet, I havent got a home. Is it all right if I stay with you? Its over with Marilyn now, shes getting married again.
Henry, I have a child. If youll accept her, maybe we can be a proper family, I told him, laying my cards on the table.
A child is never a problem. I already care about her, Henry said, looking at me so kindly I felt my heart glow and melt on the spot.
…Since then, many years have passed. Henry and I have two children of our own, and weve built a warm, loving family. Peter visits often, now with a family of his own. My daughter from my first relationship lives abroad although, to tell the truth, there never was a marriage, I simply made a mistake when I was young.
I trusted the wrong man who promised me the world, dreamt up a future that never was. Still, I dont regret anything.
As for Marilyn, she remarried several times, and had a son with a travelling businessman. Her son struggled with mental health issues all his life. Marilyn never showed him much affection; she was always distant. When she passed away, the boy was placed in a care home.
Now Henry and I are growing old together, but our love is brighter than in our youth. We walk side by side through life, treasuring every day, every glance, and every breath.
Sometimes fate has hard lessons, but it also shows us that families can be made from kindness and understanding, and that real love often comes when we least expect it.
