Out of selfishness and resentment, I was ashamed of my grandma who suffered from a terminal illness, until she sent me a box of presents one day. What I found shocked me into changing my ways.
I hated Lydia. She was my grandmother, and I have been living with her ever since I lost my parents in a house fire several years ago.
I had to move to her city and then enroll in a new school which was not an easy task, but Lydia helped me through it. She was my rock through those difficult times, so imagine my sadness and horror when I realized that she was slowly losing touch with reality.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels
It began after my return from college. I attended one in another city, and for years, granny was always at the airport to pick me up, after which we would go to Linguini’s, our favorite spot, for some pizza.
When I returned that year, she was not waiting at the airport. For some reason, I was hurt by the sudden change in what I considered our little tradition, and to rub salt in my injury, when I arrived at her place, I saw her watching TV with no care in the world.
When she saw me, she immediately looked alarmed. “Sherri? Is that you?” she demanded. I was shocked into silence. I thought it was a prank; Sherri was my late mother’s name.
“Why aren’t you saying anything Sherri?” Lydia asked. “Where is that handsome husband of yours?” I just stood there, like a deer caught in the headlights waiting for death. I could practically feel the color drain away from my face.
“Gran,” I said. “It’s not Sherri, it’s her daughter Mary.”
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“Mary?” It took her a minute or two to recall me, but her eyes lit with acceptance and love when she did. “Oh Mary, how are you? I wasn’t expecting you today,” she said.
I ignored what she said and took a perfect look at her; she looked gaunt like she had hardly eaten in days, and her skin pallor was not looking healthy enough.
I walked over to her and gave her a big hug before apologizing for not informing her of my coming, even though I had sent her an email the week before.
Dinner was a torturous affair for me as I tried...
