Chapter 10
Hazel
As I open his frontdoor, I can hear shuffling going on upstairs. My feet take me as fast as they can up to his bedroom.
“Dad, what’s wrong?”
He is on his knees, sobbing into his hands. We shouldn't have left him alone.
“What happened? Where is she?” he asks.
I look around the room and his closet is ransacked with clothes thrown all around. If I didn't know any better I'd think he got robbed. “What are you looking for?”
“Did she leave me? Where is all her stuff?”
It’s at that moment it hits me that he is talking about my mom. My father is having an episode and he doesn’t remember her passing. How am I supposed to tell him and break his heart? I should have done more research, like how long the episodes last, because there is no sense in rocking his world if he is going to snap out of it quick.
“It’s gonna be okay.”
I grab my phone and text Jeremy to come home.
My arms wrap around him as he sobs.
“What did I do? I can’t lose her.”
That’s when my eyes start to water. I console him and let him cry.
They met in high school, and both ran for student council president, and that's how their relationship started. The campaign only brought them closer together, trying to take down the other, and in the end, it forged a friendship that turned into love. Before she passed, they were married for fifteen years, and every day we could see how much they cared for each other. Still deeply in love. Their relationship gave me something to look forward to, and helped me have high standards for the men in my life.
I hear the front door open. “Jeremy, we’re up here.”
Footsteps sound up the staircase and down the hallway, but it isn’t Jeremy.
“Are y’all okay?” Aiden asks, kneeling down next to us.
I shake my head, and the tears fall. He brings in me for a hug, and then turns his attention to my dad.
“Why don’t we get you some coffee, Mr. Grey?” he asks, and helps me pick him up off the floor.
What is he doing here? Where the hell is Jeremy?
And just like that, my father is back to normal. It's like a switch in his brain clicked and brought him back to reality. I've never been around someone that has had Alzheimer's, so this is a first. Later, I will be doing some more research on episodes so I can be aware of his nature. Are there warning signs or triggers?
“What the heck happened in here?” he asks, looking around his room.
“I was looking for something. Don’t worry, I’ll put everything back.”
It’s crazy to see him go from distraught to normal right before my eyes. And to know it’s only going to get worse as it progresses.
Aiden looks over at me and back at my dad. “You still want that coffee?”
“No thanks. Already had four cups today.”
As we come down the staircase, Jeremy walks in. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, everything’s fine,” I say, and then bob my head toward the kitchen.
My dad takes his regular spot in his recliner and switches to the discovery channel.