Here it came. The mundane conversations.

“Hey there.”

“Hey.”

“How was the performance?”

They never talked about anything he wanted to hear about.

“He did well. It was actually more entertaining than I’d thought it might be. What about you?”

“I’ve just been here.”

It was like he wasn’t even here.

“Have you eaten?”

“Just did. Ham and swiss.”

“Sounds good. That from here or…?”

“Actually, yeah. The nurse brought it in.”

Maybe he wasn’t here.

“I’ll go down and get one. Then do you want to play some cards or something?”

“Sounds good. I’m about done with this chapter anyway.”

No. Why didn’t she talk about the performance or something? But she left and boredom returned. This was hell, he decided. This was hell.