Summary

The short story “Terminal” by Nadine Gordimer is about a terminally ill woman and her husband. The woman has undergone a colostomy surgery, most likely because of bowel cancer, and is currently dealing with how her illness affects her life and her relationship with her husband. The woman recalls reading an article about a teenage prostitute working in a factory making colostomy bags a few years back when she and her husband were happy and unaffected by the illness. 

After the surgery, the woman moves into another bedroom and distances herself from her husband. She thinks about her doctors, who seem to be optimistic and predict that she is eventually going to recover. She also thinks about teaching music again, but she feels uncomfortable doing it while carrying the co...