As I leave the floor...

12 Another poor soul lies in his bed taking on a new journey. Staring eyes -- who knows what they see -- and labored breaths gasping through his cracked lips. Hard to believe this is the same guy I cracked jokes with only a few weeks ago. He wanted all the aggressive treatment, I heard. But alas, determination alone cannot sustain the feeble body with raging disease.

I gave report and closed the door behind me, leaving him still staring into nothing, but surrounded by a few nurses he had befriended from another unit. who came to keep him company for a while. (I almost imagined their blue scrubs pure white, with wings sprouting from their back.)

So I pray to no one in particular... Take care of him. And don't let him suffer.