幾週前，小病了一場。簡單的上呼吸道感染，可能因我病初發時撐著上課，撂“倒”了我好幾日。一位好友輾轉得了訊息，短訊問候。因為，她說“生病時容易感到孤獨”。我當下的反應是，我撐著工作，沒有機會，掉入自憐的坑。但這幾日靜思，我赫然明白，那些病情稍重時迫著留在家的日子，是我覺得最放鬆的生病經驗。在我的城堡裡，除非我開窗，世界是靜止的。日子，在我開眼時流動，閉眼時暫停。病毒和我身體免疫力的抗爭，本就是一個人的事。我不必擔心身上的病毒會在不經意中傳給心愛的人，或擔心我夜裡的咳嗽聲腦人，或煩憂持家的責任。我在平靜無憂中復原，是謝天謝地的感激。

Couple weeks ago, I had a bad case of viral respiratory tract infection.  Though it wasn’t anything serious, I was, nevertheless, down for a number of days.  A good friend messaged me to see whether I was OK since “the depression of loneness tends to creep in while one taking ill”.  I responded then I was so occupied for getting well and by work that I did not have time to trap myself in a virus-infected cocoon.   In truth, upon reflection, those days that I was “isolated” may be some of the most relaxing sick days I have ever had because, thank goodness, I was alone.  I did not have to worry about transmitting my viruses to love ones, to hold in my coughs at the depth of nights, or to carry the guilt of being unable to care for others.  The world stood still in my castle and I recovered in peace.  This should be regarded as a gift.