З життя
Anna Visited Her Every Other Day, Leaving Food and Water by the Bed Before Slipping Away.
Alice visited her every other day, leaving food and water by the bedside before slipping away.
I have a neighbour named Alice. Her mother had lived alone for many years. Once, she was a wonderful cook, taking great joy in preparing meals and baking treats for the whole family, always sharing with the neighbours.
But Alice was ashamed of her mothera simple country woman who had worked the land all her life. After her husbands death, the old woman was left alone. Alice rarely visited, and her mother began forgetting things, even speaking nonsense at times.
One day, Alice arrived to the heavy stench of burning. Her mother had left the oven on.
“What on earth are you doing? Cant you even heat up a meal properly? Youll burn the whole house down!” Alice shouted.
“Darling, Im sorry! Its never happened before!” her mother pleaded.
As time passed, her health worsened. Walking, even around the house, became a struggle. One day, she called Alice and said, “Alice, I dont feel wellmy blood pressures gone up. Can you come?”
“Do I look like a doctor? Call an ambulance!” Alice snapped, hanging up.
Soon, her mother stopped leaving the house entirely, and Alice had to visit weekly. She bought the cheapest groceries, did a bit of cleaning, and took out the rubbishgrumbling all the while.
“I dont understand how you make such a mess living alone! Arent you ashamed?”
Usually, shed slam the door on her way out. Eventually, her mother stopped getting out of bed. Alice came every other day, leaving meals and water beside her before vanishing again. Then, one visit, she found her mother gone.
After the funeral, Alice began visiting the grave often, murmuring, “Oh, how I miss my dear, darling mother! She was the most precious, beloved person in the world to me!”
Did she truly remember only the good times? Had she forgotten how shed neglected her, refused to help, refused to care? How could it be?
