Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: ROAD TRIP (vacation) (07/02/15)
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TITLE: Irma's Journey | Previous Challenge Entry
By Amy Gaudette
07/08/15 -
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Irma sat in her lime green wing back chair. Her silver hair impeccably kept in an elegant bun sitting in a pristine manner on top of her head. Irma smoothed out imaginary wrinkles in her pale pink skirt with hands that had seen better days. Hands that had stories to tell, if anyone had been there to listen. Adventures, escapades, warm memories all in the past now, and Irma sat waiting for one last trip that she and her husband were going on.
Adam, her husband of 50 years, had made a quick trip to the store to buy a few last minute items and then they were off. No destination in mind, just a few more memories to store up in their hearts for when age caught up with them.
Knock, knock. Irma stayed sitting. It couldn't be Adam, he wouldn't knock.
“Come in!” she called out.
“Good morning!” Amber walked in and sat down beside her beloved friend. “You look beautiful as always, Gram.” She placed a kiss on her cheek. “I see the nurse has been in. Have you had your breakfast? I could make you some toast,” Amber offered.
“No, thank you, dear. Your grandfather will be here soon, and we'll be on our way.” A smile lit up Irma's face, but a shadow crossed the face of Amber.
“Grandmother, why don't we go see if your favorite show is on this morning?” she tried to convince her.
“Not today, Amber. Today your grandfather and I head out on one more trip. We haven't gotten away in a long time, and we want one more adventure before we're too old. Don't you worry. We won't be gone long, and your grandfather is very tired out from his job. It will be good for him to get away.”
Amber rose and went into the kitchen to make a pot of tea. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed the nurse's number.
“Hello, Gwen, this is Amber. I'm sorry to bother you, but I haven't seen Gram in over two weeks and she seems to have gotten so much worse.”
“Hi, Amber. I was going to call you today. Your Gram no longer can tell reality from fantasy. She is always wanting to be dressed and ready for this trip that she and your Grandfather are going on. I go along with it, but yesterday and today she wouldn't eat because she decided to wait instead. I don't know what to do, but I think we should get her into the nursing home as soon as possible.”
Tears filled Amber's eyes. They had been able to keep her home for so long. Now this. Amber knew well the memory Gram was playing out. Grandfather had gone to the store to pick up last minute groceries before their vacation trip and he never came home. He had been in a car accident and died on the way to the hospital.
Gram had never been the same since. Now Amber had to make the hard decision that would change a beloved friend of hers forever. She needed to get her grandmother into a nursing home.
Amber thanked Gwen for her help and hung up. She went back into the sitting room with her grandmother, and noticed a brilliant smile on Gram's face. Her eyes were shining and her countenance glowed.
Amber stopped still when she heard Gram exclaim, “Adam! I knew you would come back soon. I am all ready for one last adventure! And who is that handsome man in the beautiful white robe? You look very familiar . . . wait, I know who you are . . .”
And Gram's head fell to her chest and she breathed her last.
Amber ran to her grandmother's side. She wrapped her arms around her and held on tight, as if not able to let her go. Tears flew down Amber's face, but they were not just tears of sadness. They were tears of joy at what she had just seen. Gram was taking her last trip with Grandfather, just as she had said she would.
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Great job with this.
God bless~