Penelope Theophilos walked with a slight stoop in a loose white nightgown in the corridor of the large mental clinic southwest of Athens. Carrying a cane for support and using it to bang on the neglected stark walls, once white and now in dire need of paint, she came to a doorway to her left and upon walking in slumped into her bed.
She was known to everyone in the hospital as Penelope of Smyrna, the sufferer. The doctors and nurses had taken a liking to her because she represented a strong maternal presence in the ward. Penelope was happy today because her daughter Eleni was coming to visit. She was so excited to see her daughter that she took a bath all by herself, something she had not done since she was admitted to the hospital. Penelope felt as though a veil of darkness had been lifted from her face, and she walked outside to enjoy the warmth of the sun.
It was noon when Eleni arrived. "Oh Mom, I am so happy to see you." They embraced and held each other for a long time as tears flowed from their eyes. After a while, Eleni handed out the hard candy she had brought for everyone in the ward. While some of the patients did not know what it was, others happily sucked on them like children, and when their tongues changed color, they made fun of each other.
A stocky nurse with a short haircut came into the ward and told Eleni that her mother's doctor wanted to see her in his office. Eleni walked quickly to the doctor's office.
"What is it Doctor?" Eleni asked anxiously.
"Mrs. Daskalakis, please sit down," he said, pointing to a wooden chair on the other side of his desk.
"Thank you, Doctor," she answered, sitting on the edge of the chair, facing the doctor and the large picture of Christ behind him.
"You saw your mother?" asked the young doctor.
"Yes." Eleni paused for a moment before proceeding. "She seems to be doing remarkably well."
"I am glad you saw for yourself. That's why I invited you here," he smiled. "The new treatment has worked well for her in spite of what the Germans did to her. Although it is still in the experimental stage, it seems to work miraculously on some people and luckily, your mother is one of them."
"Thank you, Doctor," said Eleni, unable to hold back her tears.
"If her improvement continues, she will be able to leave the hospital in a month."
"Dear Mother of God, thank you!" cried Eleni, wiping a tear with her handkerchief.