The Better View

I was standing in the same room, in front of the big glass window, only this time I was on the other side. This was the same window I had looked out of so many times, yet it was different. It felt astonishing how two sides of the same room had such different perspectives to offer.

One side made you feel tied, not just to the harsh truth, but also to the bed, the numerous plastic tubes and bottles, portable stands, medicines and literally every possible negative thought. You feel like the victim, because you are, but you just don’t want to be. From here, the other side seems to be at a comparative ease, at least they aren’t having to go through this condition.

On the other side however, you are free. But, a mere spectator to the suffering of the one right in front. Not just anyone, but one you love, one you care about and one you have a galaxy full of memories with. You can move about and try to ease things for them, but that one persistent thought of not being able to rip this entire rotten situation out of their life at once eats you up. From here, there’s usually a feeling of hope for the other side, at least everyone is trying to get them out of their misery.

The view outside the great glass window although remains the same. Multistoried buildings, busy streets and a sky full of clouds. While one looks out to be reminded of how the world doesn’t care about them and is leaving them behind at every instant, the other looks out to avoid the harsh truth of how utterly powerless they actually are.

And yet after all these differences, the people on these two sides are very similar. They never share a word of what they feel with each other. Not only because the other side might not understand but also because they try to avoid adding the burden of their own thoughts on each other. After all, they are in the same room, trying to fight the same situation from their own positions.

I am certain that I wouldn’t have wondered which offered a better claim, unless I had the opportunity to take a peer down both. And even after standing at each for hours, I could not decide which one had a better view to offer!

[ P.s.- The room in context is that of a hospital, one where I was once admitted and now had come back as a visitor]