99 ~ The Fall

By Kay Heitsch

I could see that "L" was starting to adjust to the memory care center. I thought I would be moving on.

Well, that quickly changed when "L" fell and broke her other hip.

I would watch "L" through her window when I left at night. She would not sit in her pink chair, where I had left her.

Through the window, I watched "L" get up from her chair and shuffle over to open and slam her door, making sure it was shut tight. Then she would walk around her room checking everything.

Shuffling, she would go back and sit down, but immediately do the same thing again and again.

Evidently, she finally wore herself out one night and fell after I left, breaking her other hip.

I joked with her that since her doctor was so good-looking, she must have wanted to see him again.

Since walking wasn't the best option, "L" 's rehab was limited to being able to stand to get in the wheelchair and use the toilet with my help.

So now, her family thought it would be best if I stayed a little longer to help "L" adjust again.

I wondered how long this subsequent adjustment would take.