My Family Wished I Were Dead

Synopsis

After I was diagnosed with dementia, I became the quietest one in the family. My son, Wayne Clements, fitted the whole house with cameras, worried that something might happen to me. To take care of me, my daughter, Jocelyn Clements, gave up the chance of a promotion for an overseas posting and transferred back to the local branch. My husband, Shane Clements, pointed at the photo album and showed me the pictures over and over again every single day. He would say, "Elodie, look. We've been married for forty-two years. If only you could remember. This home feels so empty and cold without you in it." Until Christmas Eve, when I suddenly regained my clarity. Overjoyed, I hurried into the kitchen to prepare Christmas Eve dinner. Shane loved slow-cooked pork, so tender it fell apart. Wayne liked sweet and sour pork that wasn't too sour. And cream buns were always Jocelyn's favorite. I was busy bustling about in the kitchen when Shane, usually so gentle, suddenly burst in and overturned my pot. He said, "What on earth were you doing? Couldn't you leave us in peace on such a holiday? Did you have to make the whole family revolve around you to be satisfied?" I trembled all over in fear. "I-I only wanted to cook a meal for everyone." He said, "Cook a meal? What kind of good Christmas can we have with a burden like you around? Look at you, you've ruined all the food I prepared. "We're having guests today, did you even know that? You're such a burden, you'd be better off dead." I opened my mouth to speak, but the tears fell first. Shane barked at me, "Get lost! Go back to your room. Stop being an eyesore here." I walked slowly into the bedroom and gently closed the door. So, it was only without me that they could have a good Christmas.