Day 17- A Heart Overflowing with Joy (November 16, 2023)

A Heart Overflowing with Joy

The name of the road you turn on is Miles Well Court. The number on the house in front of driveway you pull into is two. It is a two storey semi-detached house with a garage and small garden. The tulips in it are now starting to blossom. A man in his seventies gets out the car and goes to open the garage. On leaving the warmth of the car, your nose is assaulted by the cold wind. You step behind a woman who is also in her seventies. Both of you are waiting for the man, your uncle, to open the front door. The wig of the woman in her seventies, your aunt, is out of place; lifting your hand, you begin to fix it.

Your aunt looks at you with sorrowful eyes. She asks, "Does it look ugly?"

"No, it was out of place. I was just fixing it. It looks nice."

"It was out of place?"

"Yeah, so I fixed it."

The tension that has built up in her facial muscles is relaxed. She gives you a weak smile, "Thank you."

                                                                     * * *

You sit upstairs in your aunt's bedroom. After being scolded for 'not talking to her', you have decided to put yourself in her environment and at least try. Even if it doesn't seem as though she's following you. Alzheimer's is claiming her memory. Yet she can tell you off for not being sociable. 

"So I have one more assignment due when the break is over and then I'll be going home."

"Really?" She pulls the linen that's on her vanity desk.

"Yes"

"That's nice." Pulling the drawer she takes out a piece of sweet bread. It's wrapped in tissue. She unfolds it and slowly begins to eat it.

"We have to write this..."

She looks up and stares intently, "Oh hello."

"Hi aunty."

"You alright Joyce. It's really nice to see you. Why didn't you come visit me before?" She takes her mannequin head and places the wayward strands. "I like your hair, it's very nice."

"Aunty?"

Your aunty turns to back you. Pulling open a drawer, she takes out a brush and begins to brush the wig.

You feel out of place and awkward. "I'm going to go downstairs now, okay," you say.

"Are you?" your aunt replies.

"Yes, bye bye." You push yourself off the bed.

"No, sit. Stay, I don't want you to leave."

She places the mannequin head back onto the vanity desk. You sit back on the bed. Your aunt rummages through the drawers wiping her hands along the inside. After a little while and several drawers she takes out a cassette. Turing it over in her hands she looks at it intently and then gives it to you. The label reads: My Heart is Overflowing with Joy.