Staring At The Sun In Broken Hill & The Joy Of Books

Curtains drawn, hooked up to antibiotic drip and monitors, my beloved was recovering in hospital after an emergency visit, waiting for the doctor to sign him out so we could leave.

In the tightly made bed opposite him, a very gnarled old man sat perched on the side, knapsack at his feet, quietly waiting in vain for the promised doctor. He didn’t read or look out the window, just sat patiently. A large bandage covered half his face. My heart went out to him and I struck up a conversation.