Ellie looked at the card tucked neatly beneath the mauve ribbon. In flowing script it read-for the new patient, love from your friend. The small posy of violets was perfect, the sweet scent heavenly. There had been only one new patient admitted to the ward that morning – a young girl with the saddest eyes Ellie had ever seen.

Carrying the flowers into the darkened room, she adjusted the blinds. “Are you in pain Claire?” Her patient turned away.

“It doesn’t matter. No one cares.”

Ellie smiled gently. “ Someone cares, just look at your beautiful flowers.”

Claire raised herself on one elbow. “Who sent them?” she demanded.

“I don’t know,” Ellie replied, “but they’re gorgeous.” She passed the card to Claire and placed the posy on the bedside table. Claire smiled for the first time since she had been on the ward. Twenty four hours earlier Claire had been certain that she hadn’t a friend in the world, but now, this little posy of violets meant someone cared. Somewhere out there she had a friend.

Ellie smiled secretly. Yesterday a posy of violets had been delivered to the young woman whose husband had assaulted her. The card had been identical. Leaving Claire, Ellie looked towards the room at the end of the corridor and waved at Violet. She had been there the day Violet arrived on the ward – a quiet, lonely, elderly lady suffering from malnutrition. Jess the florist had left her a posy of violets to match her name. She signed the card-from your friend. It was obvious from Violet’s condition that her friends were in short supply.

It made all the difference to Violet’s recovery. When Violet realized that Jess was behind the flowers, they became firm friends. They formed a plan. Ellie would indicate a suitable recipient, Jess would bring a posy of violets and Violet would write the cards. The three conspirators were spreading hope and love very quietly in their little corner of the world.