Ward #507: Part One

- Please wait for some time. All beds are occupied, but we will see what we can do.
...
High temperature, terrible cough, headache, already spoilt nerves. The doctors will tell me in a few days that I have left sided pneumonia.
...
- We have only one bed available. Please follow me.

And we are going... to a men's unit.

- Hey, what's that all about? - asked I.

- This is a women's ward, don't worry.

The only bed available is next to the bed of a very old white-haired woman in late 70-s. The steel divider, also white, makes no difference, its just a crossbar, 2 santimeters wide.

- Should I share this pretty nice king size bed with this old lady? No way!

The hall smells with not that fresh men and their clothes including socks. I go back to the intersection between men and women.

The closest bench to the intersection is full of women, they are talking while looking my way.

In a minute one woman peels from the group, comes up to me and says:

- My daughter picks me up in about half an hour. If you wait, you can take my place.

I am guided to a room to see a normal bed, without any neighbours. When going out to the room, I look at the door. It says: Ward #507.

A brand new story for me has just begun.