Our purple-clad Fairy Blog Mother kindly posted today’s photo prompt provided by Yvette Prior. This picture was a mind-boggler for me. Still, here are my 100-words.
On one side, everything is organized.
Grocery lists. Children’s schedules. Doctor’s appointments.
On the other, it feels like a hurricane whistled through and tumbled everything around.
Where are the keys? Did Roger leave me forever? I must walk the dog.
Too late. Time for dinner.
Stephanie opens the fridge, removes barbequed salmon, tartar sauce, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes.
She feels quite brilliant for having planned ahead.
When Roger comes home – yes, he’s only gone to work – the table will be set.
She startles when gentle hands turn her around.
“Come back to bed, my sweet. It’s half past midnight.”
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Up From the Ashes 
Well written, I felt like it was simple everyday life that had broken her down, topped off by Roger leaving her.
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Thanks, Ian. I was aiming for dementia. Hope that came across.
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I thought she was having a night mare or a bad dream, but dementia seems perfect. A gentle piece, made sad upon realisation of what is really going on.
Well written.
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Thank you. I imagine Alzheimers or dementia as being in a bit of a fog which could lend itself to either gentleness or anger.
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I actually thought she was sleepwalking whilst dreaming…
But dementia makes way more sense.
Such a scary disease. Well done!
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Thanks! This was difficult to write because I was thinking of one side of the brain still being tidy and thinking clearly and the other all muddled and confused. Trying to get that across in 100-words was maybe too big a bite. Glad you thought it finally made sense. Cheers!
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😁
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I loved “Where are the keys? Did Roger leave me forever? I must walk the dog.”
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Thank you.
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Nice twist, I was drawn into a simple “hectic lifestyle”, then such a sad ending.
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Thanks, Ali.
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Oh Alicia, this is terrific. Heart-rending, but superbly done.
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Thanks so much for your kind words.
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Is she suffering from mental problem? Who is in bed?
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Heartbreaking. It seemed like a frenzy of cunfusion rather than a drifting fog of dementia, but I guess there are different points of the spectrum of this dreadful condition. Really well done, Alicia.
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Thanks, Sandra. I just talked to a friend whose uncle shot himself after he thought his wife died from a stroke. Neither her aunt nor uncle told anyone he had dementia so no one was there to keep an eye on him while she was in the hospital. Sad.
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sleepwalking, again… been there done that… cooked an entire meal once. Hubby just shakes his head, puts the food in the fridge and puts me back to bed.
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Thank you, Jelli ~ not sleepwalking, dementia. Losing time and reality.
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She’s up in the night planning dinner? I think she’s sliding into dementia and has a very understanding husband. Well drawn.
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Dementia.
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it looks like she’s sleep walking again. 🙂
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Dementia has set in. She can’t remember night from day, whether she has eaten or not, whether her husband is home or not.
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Oh, I was feeling all happy for her. Roger comes home. And, then, gulp. So sad. You did that so well, Alicia. I’ve even got tears in my eyes!
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Sorry! I’m glad this worked for you. Evidently dementia didn’t come across for everyone.
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Dear Lish,
Although I skimmed through the comment section, I had already figured that she has dementia. What a cruel thing it is, too. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh, good. It seems my words didn’t work for everyone this week. I’m glad they worked for you!
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So sad and so good. The last line reveals the mess and tumble of Stephanie’s mind, the lack of order, the forgetting, and Roger’s love and wish to keep her safe.
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Thanks for realizing what is going on. I appreciate it. Alicia
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Sleepwalking or something more serious? I fear the latter.
Click to read my FriFic tale!
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Latter. She has dementia.
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Oh, Lish, you broke my heart with the last two lines. Instant tears. That is so very, very well written, with the mixture of order and confusion. Absolutely beautiful. Story of the week for me. xx
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You just made my heart sing, Penny. Thanks so very much.
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Wonderful twist at the end. The story was believable. I’ve done things like that when I was younger, under a lot of stress. Excellent story.
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Thank you. I put a bag of grapes in our plastic bag bin a few months ago. Very icky to find.
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Ew. Nothing you forget about in the fridge is pleasant when you find it–all oozy and stinky 🙂
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Being learning a lot about dementia lately as my sister has started a Healthcare course. You wrote it perfectly.
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Oh, that’s so nice to know. Thanks so very much.
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That was tender sweet. Alzheimer’s sucks.
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Well said.
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You have portrayed the confusion and the fight for lucidness perfectly. The drain on the caregiver is a monstrous responsibility. Nicely done.
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Thanks so much.
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Such a sad story. She is trapped in her own mind while Roger is there to guide her now but it is going to get harder as time goes by.
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I can’t imagine being on either end of this scenario. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Cheers!
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Alzheimer’s? It feels like she’s slipping a bit, though I can’t decide just how out of whack she is.
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I think she’s just at the beginning stages. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
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I remember those early stages with my mother… when it goes worse you smile fondly at the memories… My mother was visiting with my sister in my family to our house and they found her walking around our hose in the middle of the night claiming that she had to let the carpenter in…
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I can’t imagine. Both my parents died with their faculties intact. A blessing among a bunch of sadness.
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The random thoughts pulled me in one direction, then I realised there was serious confusion. Sad. Well-written story.
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Thanks so much, Jilly.
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The dementia came through loud & clear to me, Lish. It must be terrible to realize the disease is overcoming you and you’re powerless to stop it. It got my dad. Those were some long tough days–especially for my mom.
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Thanks, Russell. Dementia is a mean thing, that’s for sure. My dad had a twinge of it before he passed away, but it was just a hint. Thanks for reading.
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Wow…that is a confused woman!
So sad how that disease detroys us.
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I know! It’s like it takes “you” away from you. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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I recently read Still Alice, a book about a college professor who gets early onset. Very good book.
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I saw the movie. Poor woman!
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Oh gosh that last line is great. Who hasn’t stressed so much that time does funny things? Well told
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Thanks, Laurie!
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Sad realistic depiction of what it must be like to have Alzheimer’s Disease
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Thanks. Alzheimer’s is mean.
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Hi Alicia,
I was looking for your recent FF story. This seems to be the last one you wrote.
I’m trying to get back to commenting and blogging again.
I have many, many friends with dementia and altzheimer. I thought you were going
in that direction but wasn’t sure. The ending jolted me right there. I loved the way you
took us through the routine of order and chaos which happens often with people who
have this disease. Beuatifully written …. loved it. : )
Isadora 😎
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Thanks, Isadora. I’ve been spotty about writing due to the class I teach. Also, I’ve been taking a Dance Blast class right after aerobics so am home kind of late in the day. PLUS when I’m not going to have time to comment on other’s pieces, I don’t submit one of my own. I hope you are back for a while. Alicia
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Yes, I do hope to write more. I don’t have a great deal of energy. Stress can bring that on. I’m getting back to my routine. I’ve been enjoying my outdoor area. I’ve been weeding my orchids. Knitting has been wonderful out there now that the weather is cooler. Be well 👍😍😎
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You be well, too. Take your time. You have a lot going on!
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