As I approached the hospital I could see people walking up and down the long corridor

I was passing. They were some of the patients, as I found out when I went inside,their rooms were adjacent to the corridor. They were the newly admitted patients placed on the watch list. My husband was one of them. He is asleep,I was told. After the sleepless night and violent morning he finally fell asleep with exhaustion. Please leave him,I said,let him sleep. I will wait in his room.May I? I was shown in,the door closed but did not shut,the hinges not fitting firmly enough. Yes,I recognized my husband's handy work. I sat down. The face partially covered by the pillow. The dear face I had loved for so long. Peaceful,with every breath the chest heaving and falling down gently. The moments like these were moments when I had respite,when for a short time I could stop being afraid. I was staring at that face and could feel tears running down my cheeks. The door opened and a quiet voice said behind me - you have been sitting like this for three hours now.You must be hungry.Would you like a cup of tea and a sandwich? Black coffee,please,if possible,nothing else.Thank you. Two hours later Olly woke up. He stirred a little,looked at me and closed his eyes again. Then opened them and jumped out of the bed - I thought I was dreaming but then I thought I will look again at the dream. We held onto each other.