It was time for Sally’s break. She took one last look through the open door at the couple laughing in room 14 and went off in search of coffee. Despite having been a nurse for ten years, she was no closer to understanding how people coped, holding on to the good things that life has to offer, until the very end.
Sally sat with her coffee and looked out at the street. The wind seemed crazy today. People passed by holding onto their coats, struggling along, pushing against the wind. Newspapers and crisp packets flew around their feet.
Inside the hospital Sally was safe and warm. But she wasn’t happy. What had she done in her life so far? Watching the world outside she yearned for the courage to go out and grab life. She thought again about the couple. What had brought them such happiness?
***
Graham was fucked.
And he knew it.
The Raymond account had been his last hope. Fifty thousand would have paid the suppliers allowing him to concentrate on the next big client.
He took a swig from the whisky bottle and surveyed the room. The furniture would soon be gone; he had already packed much of the paperwork into boxes. He had put this business before everything else. He’d neglected his parents, his friends, and the woman he loved. And then there was Marian. She had fought to the last to make it work.
Now he couldn’t even afford to pay Marian’s wages.
He would have to tell her today.
Marian was finished.
And no-one seemed to care.
Just five years from retirement she had no chance of finding another job. She knew the company was struggling. But there had always been hope. Finally the moment had come and she had cleared her desk and left Graham and his whisky alone in the office. She thought of all the effort she had made over the last six years and wondered what she would do now.
Now she couldn’t afford to make the trip.
She would have to tell Susan today.
Susan was furious.
And her mother didn’t understand why.
So she’d lost her job. All the more reason to get on a plane and visit her, Mike and the grandchildren she hadn’t seen for five years. She could sell the house and come and stay with them in Toronto. Susan had a wonderful husband and two beautiful children. To have her mother close by would make everything perfect.
Now she would need to persuade Mike to let her stay with them.
She would talk to him today.
Mike was sweating.
And the world outside ceased to exist.
He lay on his back, his hands cupped under Grace’s buttocks as they rose up and came down. He was feverish. And then it was over. It was just seconds before he began to think of Susan. She had given up everything for him, coming to Canada because he wanted to. He loved her with all his heart. So what was he doing here?
Now he must put an end to the affair.
He would tell Grace today.
Grace was silent.
And Mike had fallen asleep.
She lay naked, beads of sweat dripping from her chest. She stared up at the ceiling and wondered why she kept doing this. Katie said there was something wrong with people who fucked blokes old enough to be their father, but she ached to be with him all the time.
Now she had decided.
She would demand that he leave his wife today.
Katie was planning.
And she was loving every minute of it.
The seating plan was almost done. But Grace was a problem. She had insisted that she would be bringing a partner. But this man of hers had a wife and children. You don’t give those things up lightly. And she expected him to fly all the way to London with her to attend the wedding? Katie couldn’t think about her best friend any more. She loved her and worried for her in equal measure. Her thoughts turned to Carl. Would he live to see her get married?
Now she was wondering.
She must visit the hospital today.
Carl was laughing.
And it hurt.
But he wouldn’t show her his pain. They had always shared a sense of humour, him and Michelle. And because of this he loved her. They would have had beautiful children – if she had chosen him. But he knew long before the cancer that she wanted Graham.
Now time had run out.
He would let her go today.
Michelle was watching.
And Carl drifted off to sleep.
Soon Carl would be gone and she wouldn’t need to break his heart. She loved him passionately, but she was never ‘in’ love with him. Not like she was with Graham: Graham the workaholic, Graham the borderline alcoholic, Graham who she couldn’t bear to live without.
Now she knew.
She would be with Graham today.
Graham was thinking.
And his thoughts travelled in circles.
The whisky hadn’t helped. He thought of Michelle. As he poured another glass he was ashamed. The company was gone. Marian had left in tears. And then there was Carl, his best friend in the world who he hadn’t visited in weeks.
Now he knew.
He would go to see Carl tomorrow.
***
As Sally watched through the window, the wind seemed to calm suddenly. She noticed the trees outside, lining the otherwise grey city street. It was Spring and blossom was beginning to appear; the whites, pinks and yellows which brought smiles to people’s faces as winter left. She glanced at her fob-watch. Her allotted fifteen minutes was over. As she headed back along the corridor, she saw the Doctor rush through the door of room 14. She caught the eye of the young woman standing outside just as she burst into tears. Sally reached out and held the woman’s arm. She knew that sometimes people look to a stranger for support.