The patient in Room 542 was coming to the end of his life. He had turned blind and his eyes were f (1). He had also lost his two legs, one m (2) from the midthigh down, the other from below the knee. His whole body was like a r (3) log. He must be under great i (4) of pain. To make the matter worse, he was like someone c (5) away on a deserted island. Things that are often seen in a s (6), such as flowers, slippers, and get-well c (7), were completely absent. What was i (8) about this patient was that he o (9) scrambled eggs for breakfast every morning and i (10) of eating them, he picked up the plate, set it on the p (11) of his right hand and t (12) it against the wall, like a d (13) thrower. After that, he would l (14) in an unusual way. Was this his w (15) of remembering a time when he was whole and strong? Was this his way of fighting against his fate? One could find no answer. Before long he died quietly alone in Room 542.