She descends with little yelps, stooped, a human question mark asking how long love can stand.
Her daughter isn’t sure.
A hand offered to steady her mother on step nine of thirteen stairs. The hand in return is tiny, a soft manacle. Four years with this woman, this dementia. Leaving her kind-of freedom to tend to a ninety-four-year-old shell.
The eleventh step: an impulse to pull her mother hard. No one will know. Just a trip on a tread. Her freedom restored.
It is a brief respite. On the last step, she realizes thirteen is an unlucky number. But for whom?
I really enjoyed this
Thank you, Stephanie.
Very moving piece. Anyone who who has family or friend with dementia can understand the agony here.
Thank you, Sue.
a terrible temptation
It can be.
A story that hits a note for anyone who has a relative suffering with dementia.
Thank you for reading, Julie.
Well done! The piece evokes sympathy for the mother and empathy for the toll taken on the daughter.
I appreciate your comment, Bud. Thank you.
Vividly conveys the exhaustion of the caregiver, the isolation and angst.
Thank you so much.
Stunning ! It’s succinct but packs so much punch !
Thanks, Alexis. Appreciate your kind words.
You nailed this!
Thank you, Elizabeth.