I still remember what his room looked like.

The curtains always were shut. He never would let anyone open the drapes. The mood was cold. Dark. Depressing.

His wife always sat in the same chair in the corner, quietly supporting her husband.

Eric was in his late 30s and had had a massive stroke. According to the chart, it was related to recreational drug abuse. That was all I knew about the cause. It didn't matter. What did matter was that he was my patient, and that I was going to help him. I was a brand-new physical therapist, and I was eager to get Eric on the road to recovery.