Stephanie Dawn

The Woman in Room 602

They said Room 602 was empty. The chart was blank. The board showed no patient assigned. And yet every morning, when I passed her room on rounds, I’d see her — just sitting in the chair by the window. Pale blue gown. Grey hair swept into a bun. IV pole at her side but no tubing attached. She never looked at me. Just stared out the window like she was waiting for someone to return.