After turning seventy, she found herself needed by no one; even her son and daughter didnt bother to send birthday wishes.
Eleanor sits on a bench in the hospital gardens, silently weeping. Today marks her seventieth birthday, yet neither of her children has called or visited. The only person to congratulate her is her roommate, who gives her a modest gifta little handmade card. Nurse Lucy brings her an apple as a token for her special day. In general, the care home is decent, but the staff keep their distance.
It seems everyone understands that people send their elderly parents here once they become a burden. Eleanors own son brought her, insisting she needed a rest and should “recover her strength,” but in truth, Eleanor was only in the way of her daughter-in-law.
Once, Eleanor owned a comfortable flat, but her son pressured her into signing it over to him. Before any paperwork was complete, he promised she could live at home as always. But once he held the keys, her son and his wife moved in, and from that point on, Eleanor and her daughter-in-law were constantly at odds.
The daughter-in-law grumbled endlessly: the stew was bland, the bathroom floor wet, and dozens of other trivial things. At first, Eleanors son would defend his mother, but before long he began to shout at her too. Over time, Eleanor noticed the two of them whispering together, plotting behind closed doors.
Thats when her son began suggesting, more and more, that it would do her good to rest and recuperate somewhere quiet. Looking him in the eyes, Eleanor asked:
Have you decided, son, to send me to a care home?
He blushed, stared at the ground, and muttered, Mum, dont start. Its just a bit of respite, a care home by the park. Go for a month, rest, then come home. Thats all.
He delivered her here himself, signed documents, promised hed visit soon, and left. That was two years ago.
Now, Eleanor calls her son, but a strange man answers, curtly informing her the flat has been sold. She has no idea where to find her son any more. She cried most nights at first, knowing the day she arrived that she would never return home. It hurt terriblyespecially remembering the wrong shed once done her daughter, all for her sons sake.
Eleanor was raised in a rural village. She and her husband owned a large house, ran a farm. One day, a neighbour arrived with stories of city life: steady wages, good homes. Her husband fancied the idea, persuaded Eleanor, and they sold what they had, packed up, and left for London. The neighbour was rightwithin weeks they had a council flat, slowly bought furniture, and even managed a second-hand car. Tragically, her husband crashed the car one foggy morning; he succumbed to his injuries the next day, leaving Eleanor alone with two children.
To provide for them, Eleanor scrubbed floors in office buildings by night, hoping someday her children would look after her in return. Her dreams would not come true.
First, her son got into trouble. Eleanor borrowed hundreds of pounds to keep him out of prison. Later, her daughter married and had a son; at first all was well, but the boy soon fell ill with a mysterious condition. Eleanors daughter quit her job to look after him, but doctors were baffled for months.
Eventually, her grandson was diagnosed with a rare disease, treatable only in a specialist hospital with a long waiting list. During that long ordeal, her daughters husband left her. Alone in the hospital, she met a widower whose own daughter suffered from the same illness. They grew close and moved in together. Four years later, the new husband needed expensive surgeryone Eleanor had painstakingly saved for, hoping to help her son get a deposit for a flat.
So, when her daughter asked for a loan, Eleanor refused, unwilling to spend her savings on a stranger. Her daughter took great offence, telling Eleanor she had no mother any more. They have not spoken in eleven years.
Eleanor slowly rises from the bench and shuffles back inside toward her room. Suddenly she hears
Mum!
Her heart nearly stops. She turns and sees her daughter, Grace, running toward her. Eleanors legs give out; Grace catches her in an embrace.
Ive looked everywhere for you, Mum! My brother wouldnt give me your address. I only got it after I threatened legal action over him selling your flat illegally.
She chokes, tears in her eyes. Mum, Im sorry its taken me so long to visit. At first I was angry, then I kept putting it off, and honestly, I felt ashamed. But a few weeks ago, I dreamt you were alone in the forest, crying.
I woke up feeling so terribly guilty and told my husband about the dream. He told me to come and make peace. I found strangers at your old placetheyd never met you. I had to search ages to find my brother. We have a large house on the coast now. My husband wants you to move in with us.
Sobbing with joy, Eleanor hugs her daughter tight, tears of happiness finally rolling freely down her cheeks.
