pte

dance. In celebration of the wonderful weather, smaller bushes swayed merrily. Clara used to often lie in

seat, overwhelmed by the massive responsibility she had chosen to take on for God only knew how long, she drove them

iful time of year. The scent of freshly cut grass filled her nostrils after the lawn care man mowed it yesterday. She briefly wished she had more t

for some reason. He slapped her wrist a few times as she tightened her hold on his arm, ignoring her prodding. "Please leave,

nces came together in a confused, nonse

t behind her head as the wind grew stronger. Frederick,

and would do anything for them. She was still a human, though. She found it extremely difficult at times to put her parents' needs and wants ahead of her own. She never seemed to be able to accomplish her goa

her walker. As she lowered one foot and raised another, her feet on the sidewalk appeared to defy her weight. Every movement caused a pained grimace on her face. Perhap

and stood waiting, her patience ebbing. Clara inhaled deeply and told herself that although she felt compelled to hu

, Clara, if you would l

lete tasks that would take Matilda a

waved each one individually. She placed the hot food on the table and poured each of them a glass of tea. She took another look at h

th of her parents and hurried off to her jo

r household tasks, it was the closest thing to leisure time she could claim. In addition to helping her mother with her bath, she also assisted Stanley with his bath to the extent that her modesty allowed. Then, when she

tant guilt was to get a good night's sleep. A day hardly passed, but Clara wished repeatedly

e would never have. At these moments, her senses were assaulted by frustration and anger, which then transf

ult to teach and think about other things at the same time. During lunch, break time, or her working hours when the kids were in music

ue to a busy schedule. It went by far too fast; at times, the day seemed to have ended before it had even started. Some

organizing, stacking, and paper-clipping the mountain of class assignments and homework. She was too distracted to focus when she was alone with her thoug

not hear it, but she heard a voice and l

t gay friend; he was tall, thin, adorable, and had a

ing, I was required to take Mom and Dad t

d, resting a hip

Dad appears to be in as good of health as a teenager aside from his men

ll

one should have to spend the rest of their life there. It was heartbreaking to witness people waiting for death with no hope at all. It resembles a factory of human

ope when your mother becomes so incapacitated that she is unable to care for herse

en she must carry, tears tightened her throat, choking her. "I simply do not know." I can only take things one day at a time at the moment. The future appears to be bleak. My mom's relief that I

lothes, met men, went on dates, and went to the beach or to eat dinner. Clara only occasionally accompanied them when Jonny insisted, but she hardly ever

do what Clara was doing, Jonny asked. Vera wanted to marry an executive and worked a

ric was different from mine. I spoke

Along with cooking three meals a day for her parents and taking time off work to take them to the doctor, Clara also had to grade papers, attend meetings, attend workshops, att

lled with tears. "I

ase of two dozen exquisite red ros

" With a shout, Jonny picked up

a widened. She grabbed th

. Her face was full of surprise. How could he have known

s he was curious enough to find you a

rge doe eyes growing sad. Does it really make a

will find a way," he said, offering h