Emily visited her every other day, leaving food and water by the bedside before slipping away.
I have a neighbour named Emily. Her mother had lived alone for many years. Once, she was a brilliant cook, taking great joy in preparing meals and baking treats for the whole familyalways sharing extras with the neighbours.
Yet Emily was ashamed of her mother, a simple country woman who had spent her life working the land. After her husbands death, the old woman was left on her own. Emily rarely visited. And her mother began forgetting thingslittle at first, then more, even slipping into nonsense now and then.
One day, Emily stopped by and was met with the strong stench of burning. Her mother had forgotten to turn off the oven.
“What on earth are you doing? You cant even heat a meal without nearly burning the house down!” Emily shouted.
“Love, Im sorry! Its never happened before!” her mother pleaded.
Over time, her health worsened. Walking grew difficult, even just around the house.
One day, she called Emily.
“Em, I dont feel right. My blood pressures gone up. Can you come?”
“Am I a doctor? Call an ambulance!” Emily snapped before hanging up.
Soon, her mother stopped leaving the house entirely, and Emily had to visit weekly. She bought the cheapest groceries, did a quick tidy, took out the binsall while fuming.
“I dont understand how one person can make such a mess! Arent you ashamed?”
Most days, Emily stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Eventually, her mother couldnt even rise from bed. Emily came by every other day, dropping off food and water without a word. Then, one day, she arrived to find her mother had passed.
After the funeral, Emily began visiting the grave often.
“Oh, how I miss my dear, sweet mum!” shed say. “She was the most precious, loving soul in the world!”
Had she truly forgotten how shed neglected her mother? How shed refused to care for her? How was that even possible?
