Grandma woke up already in the care home. Her daughter-in-law had arranged everything meticulouslyexcept for one tiny oversight.
Consciousness returned to Edith Harper quite suddenly. She blinked her eyes open, finding herself in an unfamiliar room that looked suspiciously like a hospital ward. Her head was pounding, her temples throbbed, and her memory was a blank slate. How had she ended up here? What had happened?
Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried piecing together the events that had led her to this place. In her minds eye, she saw her flatmodest but cosy, the two-bedroom home her late husband had earned through his factory job. After he passed, shed lived there with her son, Thomas. For years, warmth and understanding had filled those walls.
Then Thomas married Clarissa.
From the moment Clarissa stepped inside, the place turned into a battleground.
“This is ghastly,” Clarissa declared, inspecting the flat with a curled lip. “The furniture belongs in a museum, and those curtains? Straight out of the 1970s. We need to bin everything!”
Edith bit her tonguejust barely. Every item in that flat held a precious memory of her husband.
“This is *my* home,” she snapped. “I decide what stays. If you dont like it, the doors right there.”
Clarissa took that as a challenge. She bided her time, then struck again the next day, demanding Edith get rid of her books.
“Its impossible to breathe in here! The whole place is drowning in dust! And *incidentally*, were expecting a baby!”
Ediths temper flared.
“Those books arent just paper to me. If you want to breathe, grab a duster. But keep your hands off my library. And dont even think about redecoratingwait until Im gone.”
The rows became constant. Eventually, Thomas, exhausted by the endless bickering, moved out with Clarissa into a rented flatthough he still visited his mother regularly. One day, looking sheepish, he pleaded,
“Mum, please try to get along with Clarissa. Its hard on us, and we need you.”
“I *am* trying. But I get the feeling she actually *enjoys* the drama,” Edith muttered.
“Well figure it out,” he said, though he clearly had no idea how.
Then life took an unexpected turn when Edith met Arthura kind, widowed gentlemanin the park. Their conversation flowed effortlessly. For the first time in years, she felt light. Arthur was warm, straightforward, and sincere. Shed come alive again.
Later, over dinner, she introduced him to Thomas and Clarissa.
“Thomas, Clarissa, this is Arthur. Weve decided hell move in with me.”
“And you two,” Arthur added with a smile, “can have my flat. Its small, but rent-free.”
Clarissa exploded.
“Are you *joking*? Were about to have a baby, and you expect us to cram into a one-bed while you live it up? Never!”
She stormed out, chair screeching behind her. Thomas, red-faced, mumbled, “Sorry hormones” and hurried after her.
Edith sat there, stunned and lost.
The memory shattered with a sharp stab of pain. She squeezed her eyes shut. Where *was* she? How had she gotten here?
The door creaked open. A young woman in a white coat stepped in, silently checking her pulse and temperature.
“Miss, please where am I? Whats happened to me?” Edith asked.
“You dont remember?” The reply was icy. “You attacked an elderly woman. She was barely saved. Youre lucky things didnt end worse.”
“*What*? Thats nonsense! Ive never hurt anyone! Youve got the wrong person!”
The nurse said nothing, gave her an injection, and left without so much as a glance.
Later, a woman in her sixties with a friendly face appeared.
“Hello. You must be Edith? Im Margaret. Been here a whilefigured out how things work. This isnt a hospital. Its a care home. And most of us didnt end up here because were illjust inconvenient.”
Ediths stomach dropped.
“But I have my flat, my pension. Thomas would *never* do this”
“Most of us had everything too. But here we are. Some suddenly develop dementia. Others have violent outbursts. Easy enough to fake.”
“Im *not* ill! My minds as sharp as ever!” Edith cried, fighting tears.
“Then think. What happened before this? Anything odd? Any symptoms?”
Edith fell silent. The last few days *had* been strange. Clarissa had started bringing her food more oftenespecially those delicious pastries she couldnt resist. Afterwards, shed felt drowsy her thoughts muddled
“Its *her*. This was her plan. Shes always hated me. But Thomas he wouldnt allow it. And Arthur theyll find us.”
Margaret shook her head.
“Dont count on it. No calls, no letters. Were forgotten. The paperworks all in order. Its legal.”
“I wont give up. I *wont* stay here! Ill escape!” Edith said fiercely, wiping her tears.
“Not yet. See that nurse, Irene? Shes not just meanshes *dangerous*.”
The words sent a chill down Ediths spine, but she gripped Margarets hand.
“We *cant* stay. We have to get outno matter what.”
“Ive got an idea,” Margaret whispered. “Theres one kind nurse hereDaisy. She wants to help but doesnt know who to trust. No one here has contact with the outside world.”
“But *I* do!” Edith gasped. “Arthurhe was in the military. He *wont* abandon us!”
The next evening, when Nurse Daisy slipped into their room, the women exchanged a glance and took their chance.
“Youve got minutes. Hurry,” Daisy murmured, handing Edith a phone.
Hands shaking, Edith dialled. After a few rings, a voice answered.
“Arthur, its me, Edith. No time to explain. Just come to this address and get us out. Trust me?”
Less than two hours later, sirens wailed outside. Edith rushed to the window.
“Theyre here! Were saved!”
Police swept through the building, heading straight for the administrators office. Arthur burst into the room, pulling Edith into a crushing hug.
“Clarissa lied to me. Said you were too ill to see anyone. Thomas was away, and she claimed *you* refused to speak to me Ive missed you so much.”
Edith went home with Arthur. Margaret stayed with them while she got back on her feet. When Thomas returned and learned what Clarissa had done, he was horrified.
The care homes management faced investigation. Clarissa was arrestedironically, giving birth in custody. Thomas took their son to raise himself, bringing Edith and Arthur immeasurable joy.
Later, Thomas divorced Clarissa. And Arthur, now living with Edith, swore no one would ever hurt her again.
Sowhat do you think? Was a two-bed flat really worth all that? Let us know in the comments.
