Twomen,bothseriouslyill,occupiedthesamehospitalroom.Onemanwasallowedtositupinhisbedforanhoureachafternoontohelpdrainthefluidfromhislungs.Hisbedwasnexttotheroom'sonlywindow.Theothermanhadtospendallhistimeflatonhisback.Thementalkedforhoursonend.Theyspokeoftheirwivesandfamilies,theirhomes,theirjobs,theirinvolvementinthemilitaryservice,wheretheyhadbeenonvacation.Everyafternoonwhenthemaninthebedbythewindowcouldsitup,hewouldpassthetimebydescribingtohisroommateallthethingshecouldseeoutsidethewindow.Themanintheotherbedbegantoliveforthoseonehourperiodswherehisworldwouldbebroadenedandenlivenedbyalltheactivityandcoloroftheworldoutside.Thewindowoverlookedaparkwithalovelylake.Ducksandswansplayedonthewaterwhilechildrensailedtheirmodelboats.Youngloverswalkedarminarmamidstflowersofeverycolorandafineviewofthecityskylinecouldbeseeninthedistance.Asthemanbythewindowdescribedallthisinexquisitedetail,themanontheothersideoftheroomwouldclosehiseyesandimaginethepicturesquescene.Onewarmafternoonthemanbythewindowdescribedaparadepassingby.Althoughtheothermancouldn'theartheband-hecouldseeitinhismind'seyeasthegentlemanbythewindowportrayeditwithdescriptivewords.Daysandweekspassed.Onemorning,thedaynursearrivedtobringwaterfortheirbaths,onlytofindthelifelessbodyofthemanbythewindow,whohaddiedpeacefullyinhissleep.Shewassaddenedandcalledthehospitalattendantstotakethebodyaway.Assoonasitseemedappropriate,theothermanaskedifhecouldbemovednexttothewindow.Thenursewashappytomaketheswitch,andaftermakingsurehewascomfortable,shelefthimalone.Slowly,painfully,heproppedhimselfupononeelbowtotakehisfirstlookattherealworldoutside.Hestrainedtoslowlyturntolookoutthewindowbesidethebed.Itfacedablankwall.ThemanaskedthenursewhatcouldhavecompelledhisdeceasedroommatewhohaddescribedsuchwonderfulthingsoutsidethiswindowThenurserespondedthatthemanwasblindandcouldnotevenseethewall.Shesaid,"Perhapshejustwantedtoencourageyou."Epilogue:Thereistremendoushappinessinmakingothershappy,despiteourownsituations.Sharedgriefishalfthesorrow,bu