When the Dreamer Dreamed

7

7Down the hall, there were rooms right and left, as any hospital. This one was light and airy, and perhaps fewer patients than it would normally take to fund a building like this. From the window views, we were probably on at least the fourth floor if not higher - and there was another wing across, but the area morning fog kept more than shadows showing up as far as nearby buildings.

We could be in a campus, and this a research center - that might cover it.

Some other patients were also starting to travel the hall ways, some with I.V. drips wheeling along. Others just shuffling to whatever destination they'd be about on days like this. No one I knew, which was pretty appropriate.

Jack showing up made this a bit odd. How he started into medical training after what we'd been through was nearly incredible. I'd seen more odd things, and it had been about a decade or more since we had last talked. But it was good to see his face.

Just then, a younger nurse showed up, a brunette with nearly black hair in the fluorescent lighting. Also curvy underneath her tailored smock.

"And how are we doing today?" she smiled as she asked.

Returning her smile, "Not too bad. Not sore anyway. What's on the schedule today?"

"Well, you're up for a lot of rest. Sometime this afternoon, your physical therapist will be by to check things out. After what you've been through, it's surprising that you aren't sore. But it's good to see you around and moving about on your own. There's a garden area off the foyer you might want to visit. Plant oxygen is good for your condition."

I was about to ask more, but someone else caught her eye. She nodded back to me and then moved off with a silky gait. Watching her walk was just as good for me as any other exercise. But I could only hope that all the nurses were as attractive as the first two I'd met.

Making my way down the hallway was uneventful. More patients, various ages, but none particularly in bad shape or bandaged up. Most in the apparent daze from waking up or whatever meds they were on. They all looked well-cared for.

In the foyer, I saw some middle-aged matrons at the desk. Chunky, but not disgracefully. Trim. And I started to wonder why I was looking at their shapes and why mostly females - until I nearly was hit by a glass door suddenly opening toward me.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't see you coming." Another patient, matching my own frumpy attire, only with softer pastels in very feminine colors. Shorter hair, another brunette, but with streaks of highlighting. No make up, but she didn't really need any, since her natural coloring was more than adequate.

"No, excuse me. I should have been watching for this very door. I was looking for the garden." And the sweet smells of fresh grass and nut trees fragrantly wafted through the open door. Somewhere, flowers bloomed within.

"Well, here it is. Glad to meet you. Hope to see you around later." With that, the nameless patient walked off into the hall, a different direction from where I came.

The door started to close automatically and I held it to avoid being hit, distracted as I was by her graceful motion.

Looking into the Garden showed a well-manicured garden-like arboretum, with high ceilings for the well-pruned trees. It was hard to tell their age, as they seemed more like overgrown bonsai - just tall enough to provide shade, yet never actually interfere with the tall roof structure. Mostly deciduous - oaks, hickories, and it smelled like a walnut or two, plus some pine.

What caught my attention was the blooming flowers which bordered the walks. More plants native to where I grew up. Amazing that they were able to cultivate wildflowers here. Black-eyed Susan's, Chicory, and Coneflower by the paths, with violets and Dutchman's Breeches in the shade, along with others I barely could identify.

The paths were smooth, but a composite with tiny expansion joints as if they were fitted by expert masons - or more probably poured in place, one by one. Too tightly fitting to allow someone to trip or a small wheel to catch. Smooth as if the joints were more decorative than functional. Yet forward a bit showed a taped-off area where you could see they had pulled some up to repair something below - or trim offending roots.

Everything was neat, tidy. People were enjoying the sunshine, sitting on the low walls on the path sides, or using the benches which were placed in small, shady cul-de-sacs, built for some slight privacy. I saw only smiling faces, where groups of two or three were together. Occasionally, my wandering took me by the solitary individual deep in concentration over a book. And I saw a pair in concentration over a chess board, near oblivious to the scents and beauty around them.

Occasionally, I heard a bird treble in the trees above. While I didn't see any, it didn't seem too odd that this great arboretum could have some. For health reasons, I suspected they were recordings. But a small breeze wafted from time to time as well - perhaps for the mutual benefit of the plants as much as the patients.

The paths continued to twist and turn and intersect one with another. However, they all returned to an exit finally. No matter how one turned, you would find another glass door and the organized hospital world waiting from this brief sojourn in Nature.