Gentle Time

Hello
Good evening
Is the sky clear for everyone today?
Is it raining?
Or perhaps a pitch-black night sky?

Even though I have loved writing since long ago,
I have rarely found myself putting words to paper.
At this age, I am writing here because I want to leave a record of my days.

I am currently hospitalized.
I have already entered my fourth month.
At first, it was very painful.

But there is a gentle space here,
there are companions fighting against illness,
and there are doctors, nurses, and staff members who spare no effort to help.
We are all doing our best, talking about fun things, happy things, sad things, frustrating things, things we could do, and things we couldn't do every day.

When the lights click on early in the morning,
the day begins,
slow and relaxed...
Well, it's quite idle, isn't it?
That is how a day begins.
From my current spot in the bed by the window,
the sun comes in during the morning,
and I can tell right away if it's raining today,
if it's sunny, or if it's cloudy.
My joy is talking with the other patients and the staff.

There are so many different people here,
all having walked such different paths in life.
When I talk with such warm people around me,
I find myself thinking, 'I have to do my best too,'
and I am encouraged without even realizing it.
When it's time for meals,

we are such cute, hungry people that we notice it's time to eat
just by the sound of the meal cart's wheels clattering at the corner of the hallway.

I have passed three months and have entered my fourth month of hospital life, but I think of this as a time to crouch down low that God or someone gave me, and surrounded by gentle people, I am doing my best.

Shino is doing well today, too.