A Mother's Final Release

Synopsis

After my Alzheimer's diagnosis, I began to get lost almost daily. To care for me, my son David Grant moved me into his home, but his frequent absences from work became a problem. When he was let go from his job for the third time, his wife Emily suggested placing me in a care home. David refused outright. "Absolutely not. As long as I'm alive, I'll care for my mother myself." "But what about your job? And with Sophie's medical bills, my income alone can't cover everything." Their arguments grew more frequent, and my heart ached with guilt. Most of the time, though, I would forget who they were. I even grew annoyed with these "strangers" bickering in front of me, keeping me from picking my son up from school. Later, David lost yet another job because he'd been out searching for me. The hospital called, pressing him for payment for Sophie's latest stay. He finally broke. For the first time, he yelled at me, "After all these years, why won't you just die? Get out of here. I'm done taking care of you!" I was overjoyed. I could finally leave and go pick my son up from school. Then I accidentally fell into an open manhole. When I came to, I realized I was dead. And my mind was clear again, sharp, lucid, like morning light after a long fog. A strange calm washed over me. Now my son, my poor devoted David, would be free of me.