Then she burst into laughter. Loud, eerie laughter. I smiled, trying to mask the unease, and backed away.
Advertisement
Just then, Daniel and Janelle emerged from the building with a young woman, probably an administrator. She was holding my suitcase.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Hello, Ellis! I’m Kira. Let me take you to your room.”
“Darling, it’s beautiful here! I worked hard my whole life. I suppose this is life saying thank you.”
“Oh, I don’t work that hard,” Kira shrugged politely.
“Are there excursions? I’d love to visit the mountains. It’s included, right?”
Advertisement
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Kira hesitated. “We’ll talk about it later. But, yes. Fresh air is key.”
We walked upstairs. A large room. Several beds. I turned to my son and daughter-in-law.
“Are you staying in the room with me?”
They exchanged glances.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
“Mom…” Daniel started. “We’ll be gone for a few days. While you undergo… some check-ups. We found the best doctor for you.”
“Doctor? But I’m healthy. I thought we were here for a family getaway.”
“It’s not exactly a resort,” Janelle mumbled, averting her eyes.
“But… I won this trip!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Janelle slipped behind a partition with Kira. I caught only fragments.
Advertisement
“…she thinks it’s a prize trip… fabricates events… losing touch with reality…”
I stepped toward Daniel.
“Son… what’s going on?”
“Mom, you’re safe. This is the best place for you. You need rest.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“I’m not crazy!”
My voice cracked, but I hadn’t meant to shout. “I just wanted to spend time with you. I…”
Advertisement
They were already walking away. Quick goodbyes. No hugs. I was left alone in a spacious room with strange beds. That wasn’t a resort. I hadn’t won anything.
I’d been trapped. By my own family.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
The next morning, I knew exactly where I was.
It was a residential care home for elderly people with dementia, senility, and memories wrapped in fog. That all was treated with lavender tea, deep breathing exercises, and art therapy.
Advertisement
They promised I’d meet with the chief doctor, after which my daily schedule, “supervision,” and “rehabilitation” would be determined. Though I knew then already, my life had been decided without me.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The doctor’s office was cozy. I sat in a cushy chair, mentally bracing myself for memory quizzes. The door opened.
“Evelyn?”
The doctor froze in the doorway. I straightened.
Advertisement
“Frank? Frank, is that really you?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
He paled.
“My God… I thought it was a mistake. They told me you mix up events, can’t recognize people…”
“I still remember how you organized a student protest because the cafeteria ran out of peanut butter.”
“And how we were supposed to go on that picnic, but I said I wasn’t in love.”
Advertisement
He laughed with that same tone I remembered from 40 years ago.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“That’s still the most painful memory of my youth.”
“I lied, by the way. I was just scared. But I loved you.”
Frank suddenly sat across from me, serious.
“Evelyn, your children said you’ve lost your grip on reality. That you think you won a vacation, have trouble keeping track of time…”
Advertisement
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Frank, I didn’t win anything. I thought so.”
“Please, explain.”
“I wanted to change my will. I have an appointment with my lawyer on Friday. And then… Boom! Lavender tea, a pillow under my neck, and a ride here.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Advertisement
He leaned in thoughtfully.
“Alright. Quick test. First — what was your college roommate’s name?”
“Paula. Snored like a tractor. Had three identical daisy-print dresses. We named them ‘Monday,’ ‘Wednesday,’ and ‘Sunday.’”
Frank tried not to laugh.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Your son’s birthday?”
“March 17th. His second tooth fell out on October 4th. I forgot to put the dollar under his pillow, told him the Tooth Fairy got stuck in traffic.”
Advertisement
Frank slid his pen into his coat pocket.
“Okay. Either this is an incredibly coherent delusion… or you’re clearly not one of our typical patients.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I leaned in closer.
“I’ve got a plan. But I’ll need your help. If you play along, my ‘caring children’ will be the ones showing up here with suitcases.”
“And then what?”
Advertisement
“I’ll tell you…”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“I’ll help. On one condition.”
I raised an eyebrow.
