Wing C, Room 312

Sarah hastily walked down Wing C to room 312. She needed to be with her grandmother, Grandma Bess, whose life was rapidly fading. The atmosphere in the nursing home felt surreal; the odd smell of old people and cleaning disinfectants was not permeating the air as usual. It was strange that she could not smell anything.

Her entire evening was peculiar. It began with the tragic car accidents on Route 64. She had been stuck in traffic for three hours due to police cars, ambulances, tow trucks, and even an emergency helicopter. All traffic had been at a standstill. Sarah felt anxious and incredibly sad. She knew too many people had died in the senseless, tragic, multi-car accident. Sarah quickened to a slight jog to get to Grandma Bess before someone noticed and told her to leave.

When Sarah arrived at Spring Valley Care Facility, visiting hours were over. She rang the doorbell anyway and waited for the receptionist to open the door, which stayed locked to the public. The locked doors prevented patients from leaving at will. The locks also kept unauthorized visitors, not listed in the logbook, out.

Sarah had been frantic to see her grandmother while she still lived if one could call that living. Sarah loved her grandmother but dreaded the obnoxious smells. She did not know which smelled worse, the old people's smell or the stink of cleaning disinfectants. Why did the old bat at the nurses' station not unlock the door? Sarah became frustrated and was ready to scream and pound on the door. There was little time left; she needed to see her grandmother. She punched the doorbell repeatedly.

A well-dressed woman, who looked official, walked up to the door, punched a code into the keypad, and walked in when the door opened. Sarah quickly followed the woman before the door closed; she was not about to wait for permission to enter. She needed to get to her grandmother before time ran out. Sarah was not sure what before time ran out even meant, but it felt urgent. She assumed it to be the end of visiting hours.

No one had noticed Sarah as she hurried through the facility looking for Wing C, room 312. She had been lucky. If the nurses do not know I am here, I will stay late, Sarah hoped. She passed nurses who pushed medical carts filled with patient charts and medications. She passed aides who carried armfuls of clean bedding. Sarah avoided all eye contact and hoped no one would notice her. Everyone was busily doing their rounds, so it was doubtful they would see her anyway.

Sarah reached her grandmother's private room. She entered and quickly shut the door. The sweet smell of flowers had replaced the odd odor that often filled the room, but Sarah saw no flowers anywhere. She thought the staff had used a refreshing room spray that neutralized the odious smell and replaced it with a lovely flower, woodsy fragrance. It smelled like roses, sandalwood, gardenia, and something else. It smelled heavenly, whatever it was. She found her grandmother asleep, as usual. Grandma Bess woke briefly, then drifted off again. She looked peaceful.

Sarah did not want to disturb her dreams. She hoped her grandmother could still dream of happier times. Sarah did not understand when her grandmother spoke due to her second stroke, but she did understand the tone of her voice. It was a tone filled with kindness and love. As for Grandma Bess, she understood everything Sarah told her. Her hearing was excellent, especially for an old woman.

Sarah pulled the heavy upholstered chair close to her grandmother. Barely above a whisper, she sang her grandmother's favorite songs. Then she paused and studied her grandmother closely. Something was different; everything felt different. Someone had already brushed her long, silky white hair and draped it over her shoulders. Her skin looked soft and glowed with an ivory tone. Sarah usually brushed her grandmother's hair, washed her face, and massaged her hands and feet with lotion while she visited.

Who had already tended to her grandmother? They had no other family. They only had each other. Sarah was sure the nurse aide had not devoted the time to making her grandmother look beautiful and peaceful. Sarah believed the staff and other visitors saw her grandmother as only an old, dying woman. To Sarah, she was both her grandmother and her mother.

Grandma Bess had raised Sarah since infancy. They were a family of two. Bess had never loved anyone as she loved Sarah. Sarah equally loved her grandmother. After her grandmother had her first stroke, Sarah cared for her at home. She was determined to care for her as her grandmother had cared for her, with love. She fixed her meals, helped her dress, and brushed her hair. Bess loved her hair brushed gently and pinned in curls.

After Bess's second debilitating stroke, Sarah could not care for her grandmother. Her heart broke when her grandmother was admitted to Spring Valley Care Center. Sarah visited nightly and brushed her silky white hair until it shined.

Grandma Bess struggled to open her eyes. She slowly moved her head and stared at the photos of Sarah that covered the side table. She mumbled words that Sarah did not understand. Tears ran down the old woman's face and dampened her pillow. The tears startled Sarah. She reached for her hand, but Grandma Bess drifted back to sleep before Sarah said anything or could even touch her. Why would her grandmother cry? Was she worried that Sarah would be alone once she had gone? She knew her time on this earth would soon end.

"Grandma, do not worry about me. I have a new friend. Well, he is more than a friend. He is a wonderful man who I love very much. I have known him for a year. I did not tell you in case I jinxed it. When you meet him, you will smile and say, 'Sarah, I like him.' When you wake up, I will tell you all about him."

Once again, Bess opened her eyes. This time, she looked lovingly into Sarah's eyes and wept. "I am so sorry about the accident, my dear child. You did not deserve that." Sarah understood her grandmother’s words clearly. How did that happen? Sarah was confused.

” How do you know about the accident on Route 64?” Sarah knew the nurses and aides never shared any news with the patients. Sarah repeated, "Grandma, how do you know about the car accident, and how can I understand you so clearly?"

"How do I know? I know because you are here to take me with you," her grandmother smiled.

Sarah watched Grandma Bess glow radiantly and rise effortlessly from her bed. The ethereal glow filled the room.

Sarah finally understood why the smells of old people and disinfectants were gone and replaced by the celestial aroma of flowers, at least in her grandmother’s room.