May 28, 2017

Beeping.

The part of a hospital that is easiest to forget once you’ve left is all the beeping. When you’re in the hospital, however, there’s no escaping that sound.

Beep.

The sound of a monitor regularly checking on the wellbeing of a patient.

Beep.

The sound of a blood pressure cuff alerting that it has completed its cycle and has results to share.

Beep.

The sound of the bedside call button being pressed and sending the nurses into the room.

Beep.

The sound before an announcement is made saying that lunch is being served in the ward dining room.

Beep.

The sound telling the reception desk that the door to the ward has been opened, either from the inside or outside.

Beep.

The sound that occasionally comes from the nurse’s computer—I still can not figure out why.

Beep.

The sound of the elevators coming and going, bringing people onto and off the floor.

Beep.

The sound that warns you that visiting hours are now over, and that it’s time to leave no matter how much you’d like to stay.

Beep.

The sound that reminds you that none of this is normal.

Beep.

The sound that reminds you that no matter how strange this may seem, no matter how hard it has been, everything will be okay.