Powerless. (Monday Moments #45)

          He was going through a tough time. His mother was acting really different for some time now. She called him by her father's name. She just zoned out sometimes. She forgot where she kept something time and again. That day she wasn't able to recollect what happened last week. So, her son took her to the doctor. After some tests, the obvious was out in the open. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It was unbearably difficult for him to deal with it. His mother who taught him how to identify alphabets, had trouble understanding them. His mother who took him everywhere now had to be accompanied by him. His mother who listened to his rote answers for exams, was now at a loss of words. It was unbelievable and very painful. They both were home that evening. He said, "Mom, do you remember the time I went to my college industrial visit? You were so worried that I might get into trouble but it ended up being the most amazing trip." She was staring into the distance. After a while she replied, "Excuse me, what? Do you know who is that person in the photo frame?"

A tear rolled down from his eye. His mother was looking at her husband's picture and asking who he was. The son couldn't hold it within him. He started crying. He idolised his parents. Theirs was the only love story he adored. And now, his mother was cluelessly looking at her dead husband's picture wondering who he actually was. The son felt totally powerless. He just wanted his mother back. There was nothing in his power to get him his mother back. His mother was right in front of him but she had drifted farther away. At that moment, he knew nothing would ever be the same.

(‘Monday Moments’ is a blog series wherein I write about an incident or a moment in a short paragraph. It’s not a story, but just a short description to express and explore the most common joys and also the uncommon miseries.)

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