Photo Credit: Susan Spaulding
Brenda spotted the crowd. Anxiously, she made her way toward them, skirting around the two pink flamingos. “Excuse me,” she called and pushed her way to where her mother stood, looking bewildered. Brenda put her arm around her. She was trembling.
Her mother looked at her. “Who’re you?” she asked.
Brenda replied calmly, “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid. I’m Brenda and I’m here to take you home.”
“You know where I live?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know who you are but you have a kind face.”
A man standing there asked Brenda, “Do you know this woman?”
“Yes. She’s my mother.”
“How come she doesn’t know you?” a little boy asked and his mother shushed him.
“She’s having trouble remembering people and things,” she explained to him. Then, she gently led her mother away from the curious and sympathetic gazes.
“How did I get here?” her mother asked as they walked slowly along the beach.
“I suppose you wanted to take a nice walk along the beach and didn’t remember how to find your way back home. But, I’m here now and I’ll take care of you.”
“Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”
The above quote is from a true classic, A Streetcar Named Desire.
Word Count: 198
This was written in response to the Sunday Photo Fiction Challenge, hosted by Susan and the photo is courtesy of Susan Spaulding. For more details visit here and if you are interested in reading other stories based on this week’s prompt, visit here.
Sources: Mayo Clinic; Aging Care
Notes to Women 
Such a sad circumstance, when a mother doesn’t recognize her own daughter. And such a real one, that so many people struggle with every day. Your story has such kindness and understanding in it, very nicely done.
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Thank you, Joy. Yes, it’s heartbreaking to see someone who was once so mentally alert and full of life deteriorate right before your eyes. The best thing you can is love and care for them. It is the least we can do for all those years they took care of us. My Mom has Parkinson’s and spends most of her time in a wheelchair. It’s hard to see because she was once so active and independent. Sad, sad circumstances indeed.
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I’m so sorry that your mom is dealing with that, and you and the rest of the family too. It is a heavy burden for all concerned.
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Thanks, Joy. Yes, it is hard to deal with sometimes but by God’s grace, we are taking it one day at a time. She’s still mentally alert. It’s just her body that’s not as it used to be. She’s a strong woman–and stubborn.
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Alzhiemers can be so painful – I can only imagine the pain of dear ones. Lovely take on the prompt
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Yes, it can be very painful. And thank you 🙂
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A tragedy when someone slips away like this. Well written, and I enjoyed the inclusion of the quote from a great play and film.
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Yes, seeing someone you love slipping away is nothing short of a tragedy. Thanks, Iain.
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