Douglas’s hand comes down on mine, patting it. “People subconsciously attach themselves to things from the past. It’s their way of holding on to pieces of their old selves. Hers is gardening. We have some who paint and play the piano. It’s not uncommon. It can be difficult to accept though.”
Mable leans back on her knees and appreciates her work with a bright smile on her face. It makes me happy that she’s doing what she loves. I can’t be upset at her for not remembering Danny or Ainsley. It’s not her fault.
“I’m graduating this weekend,” I announce, sighing. “I really wanted everybody to be there. My parents. My brother. Mable.” I look from the older woman to the younger nurse. “I know she can’t come though. It would have just been nice to see her face in the crowd and know she’s watching me.”
Sympathy has Douglas squeezing my hand in hers.
“She always used to tell me that I would go places because of my strength but I never believed her,” I admit quietly. “I remember my senior year of high school when she asked if I was going to college. I told her where I was planning to attend but hadn’t decided what I’d do with the History major I chose.” I find myself laughing lightly, shaking my head. “Mable told me that I’d make a wonderful professor someday. She said I had what it takes to be in front of a classroom with a no-nonsense attitude while I taught what I was passionate about. I didn’t believe her, even laughed it off. Me a professor? Nah. Then she told me in true Mable form that maybe her premonition got mixed up and I’d just end up with a professor in the future.”
I’d forgotten about that until this moment. Mable always got “feelings” about things. Most of those never came to fruition. Secretly, I think anybody who knew about them were glad. Danny would bring up whatever weird thing she said she predicted and blew it off, but the one time she was right was when she’d told Danny and me to be careful driving back to our homes after we visited her. She said she’d gotten a bad feeling about the upcoming storm. That’d been a week before Danny’s accident. Before his death.
Making a face, I force the thought away and ask, “Do you believe in those sorts of things? That people can predict what happens? She hasn’t been right most of the time, even if I may go down the professor track.”
“I don’t know if I believe in some supernatural ability to know when things happen, but there are some people who are hyperaware of situations. Especially if there’s logic tied to them.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Sorry. I know this isn’t funny, but Mable isn’t exactly the hyperaware kind. Maybe she used to be, but that’s not her anymore. Most of the time she doesn’t even know who I am. It’s like she’s a totally different woman.”
“I know it feels that way, but she’s still Mable. She’s still the woman you know and love, just a little lost at times.”
I press my lips together.
“I’m sorry she can’t be at your graduation,” she adds sincerely. “If there were a way to make it work, I would. There’s just too much of a risk with how she’s been behaving lately. The doctor would like to do an examination with her soon.”
My eyes widen. “An examination?”
“It’s just to test her cognitive skills.”
Blowing out a breath, my shoulders loosen as I watch Mable move on to a different flower. “How has she been with everyday life? I know some patients with dementia struggle to do basic things. Is she…?”
When Douglas hesitates, I know I need to be worried. “Mable has been having problems doing certain tasks. In the past few weeks, we’ve had to help her go to the bathroom and bathe because she can’t remember how to do it. Like I said, the state of her mind is slipping at a faster rate than normal. She can still eat on her own and we’re monitoring her very closely to make sure she’s taken care of. I planned on telling you before you left. I just wanted you to get some time in with her before I broke the news.”
My lips weigh down. “What does that mean for her in the long term? If she loses the ability to function…”