The Patient Vigil
Robert adjusted his blue hospital gown and stared toward the window, where the IV stand stood on his right.
He breathed slowly, his chest rising and falling beneath the patterned fabric as the heart monitor beeped on the wall.
Outside, a golden retriever sat directly in front of the sliding glass doors of the main entrance.
The dog, Bailey, kept his chest upright and his gaze locked on the lobby interior, watching every person who walked through.
Even as dark rain clouds gathered overhead and wet pavement reflected the bright hospital sign, the dog stayed.
A nurse wearing blue scrubs walked out of the sliding doors, holding a silver bowl filled with dry kibble.
She knelt on the wet concrete, placing the bowl directly in front of the dog’s paws.
Bailey looked up at her face, his tail remaining still against the wet ground as he ignored the food.
He did not lower his head to eat, keeping his eyes on the glass doors instead.
A Glimpse From Above
Upstairs, Robert slowly pressed his palm against the glass pane of his third-floor room window.
Down below, his dog remained a small golden figure against the grey pavement, his blue collar visible from the distance.
Robert’s fingers trembled slightly as he patted the glass, looking down at the street.
A woman stood near the dog, holding a bouquet of yellow flowers, but Bailey did not look at her.
Robert turned his head toward the nurse entering the room, his voice low as he spoke to her.
The nurse placed her hand gently on his shoulder, her eyes softening as she listened to his request.
She stepped back, nodding her head before walking out to the main desk.
A group of medical staff gathered in the hallway, holding a beige leash and consulting with each other.
An Emotional Reunion
The sliding doors opened, and the golden retriever trotted quickly down the tiled hallway.
The nurses clapped, their hands coming together in a soft rhythm as they guided the dog into the room.
Bailey surged forward, his front paws landing on the edge of the hospital mattress.
Robert’s face wrinkled, his mouth opening in a wide smile as he reached his arms around the dog’s neck.
The dog pressed his snout directly into Robert’s neck, his tail wagging rapidly against the bed frame.
Robert gripped the thick golden fur, pulling the dog closer to his chest while the monitor showed his heart rate increasing.
The medical staff stood in the doorway, their hands folded in front of their scrubs as they watched the pair.
Bailey rested his chin on Robert’s chest, closing his eyes as Robert stroked the back of his ears.
A Final Promise
Robert reached over to the bedside table and picked up a bright blue leash.
His hand shook as he held the metal clip out toward the nurse.
The nurse stepped forward and took the leash from his hand.
Her hand instantly rose to cover her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she looked down at the blue strap.
Robert pointed toward the dog, his eyes wet as he spoke his final instructions.
The nurse nodded, gripping the blue strap tightly in her fist while looking down at Bailey.
The dog sat quietly beside the bed, his brown eyes staring up at Robert’s face.
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