Page 90 of Where We Fall

Lexi

Thenurseshavebeenflooding in and out of the room, checking on Mom. She has been asleep for several hours now.

Marcus and I have taken turns in the room while the other goes to get a snack, coffee, or just to stretch their legs.

The conversation I had with her earlier has been on constant repeat. I’ve never had it with her before, never had the courage to. But knowing that she was somehow acting like her old self and Marcus was here, it felt like the conversation had to be done.

I can’t get over how amazing Marcus is with her. He didn’t seem the least bit intimidated or mad that my mother was flat-out telling him she didn’t trust him. Compared to my experience with his mother, the welcoming hug and sweet disposition, I would have thought he would be a bit frustrated by how he was being treated.

But that’s just how Marcus is. He doesn’t judge people by their shortcomings. He understands their past and chooses to be nice regardless of what is thrown at him. If there were more people like him in this world, we would be better off.

At one point, I return to the room, and Marcus and my mother are playing cards.

"Rummy," my mom exclaims as she puts down the last of her cards.

"Awww, man," Marcus grumbles as he slams down his cards. "I'm normally better at this game. You're just getting lucky."

I smile as I watch from outside the door, hoping they don't see me.

"No such thing as luck in rummy. It's not about the cards you get, but what you decide to do with them."

"That's what lucky people say."

Mom laughs, a genuine fit of laughter.

"And that's what sore losers say," Mom responds.

"Touché," Marcus replies. "Nice game, Elaine."

I walk in, and the two people I love most in the world smile back at me. It fills my heart.

After dinner, when it’s time to go to bed, Marcus and my mom convince me that I should stay in the hotel again. Mom said I will just disrupt her sleep by being in the room.

I don’t know if that’s true, but the nurse stepped in and told me people sleeping in the rooms with the patients sometimes leads to the family member eventually becoming drained.

She told me to save my energy for when Mom gets released.

That sparked a new concern.

What am I going to do about her recovery? Will they have physical therapists that come to the assisted living center?

I knew this particular assisted living center prided itself on letting the residents have some form of independence. There’s a possibility she will need to transfer somewhere else that provides more hands-on assistance.

It starts to dawn on me that this next year will be impossible to get through if I live in Cleveland.

"You seem awfully quiet,” Marcus says while we sit in the car, bringing us to our hotel.

“I’m just tired,” I lie.

I don’t know if I’m ready to bring to fruition the thought that’s been on my mind.

“We’ll get back to the hotel and get a good night's sleep.”

“Don’t you need to get back to work tomorrow?” I ask.

“Don’t worry about work. I’ll head back when I feel like I have to.”

I close my eyes and rest my head on his shoulder. It feels like it’s been ages since he and I were just coworkers. It’s incredible how one silly little weekend could change the course of our lives so drastically.

---