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“What do you mean?”
“Where am I supposed to take her? I know they’re going to tell me she can’t stay there. I don’t know what that means for her care.” I sigh.
“Hey, everything is going to be all right. We’ll figure it out,” she says, squeezing my hand.
I smile over at her, because Marley makes you want to believe the things she says, even if they seem impossible.
When we get to the nursing home, we walk hand-in-hand inside to the front desk. The woman recognizes me immediately.
“I’m so glad to see you again, Clark,” she says, asking us to follow her to the office down the hall.
We follow her into the small room, and she closes the door behind us.
“I’ve got a couple of things I want to discuss with you, one of them concerning your mother’s health,” she says, grabbing a file from the top of the desk.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m afraid she’s not making any progress. The machines are the only thing keeping her alive. She doesn’t have anything about a DNR in her will, so unfortunately that means the decision will be left up to you.”
It feels like my heart drops into my stomach. I know a part of me realized when my mother got put into this home that it was most likely she wasn’t ever getting out. Hearing the words said out loud makes it all feel real, though.
I feel Marley’s hand slip into mine. I squeeze it, grateful that she’s here with me.
“You mean I have to choose whether she lives or dies?” I ask, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“It’s not exactly like that. The doctors are saying she doesn’t have any brain activity. She’s not the mother you knew, and it’s unlikely she will be again,” she says, giving me a sympathetic, sad smile.
I give what she’s saying some thought. I’ve known for a long time that she would never be the same. I’m just not sure how I feel about having to make this decision.
“I’m not going to make you decide anything today, obviously. This is a decision that cannot be easy to make. Take your time, and we’re here for you. As for payment, there’s nothing you need to worry about there, an anonymous donor has taken care of everything from here on out.”
I turn to Marley, ready to fight, but she puts her hands up in defense.
“It wasn’t me, I promise. I wanted to, but you told me not to do it, and I respect your wishes. This is the first I’m hearing about it.”
I sigh, leaning back in the chair, running my hands over my face. It has to be fucking Mitch.
“Clark, I don’t feel like this is a hand out, it’s a blessing. Now you don’t have that stress looming over you,” Marley says, putting her free hand on my forearm.
Her touch immediately relaxes me.
“You’re right,” I tell her.
“I’m going to send you home with some paperwork that will tell you everything you need to know about this decision you have to make. Now, I’m assuming you’d like to see your mother while you're here?” she says, smiling.
“I would, yes.”
The three of us get up, and we follow the nurse out the door and down the hall towards my mom’s room.
The room is quiet when we walk in. My mom looks the same. She looks peaceful.
I walk over to her bed, grabbing her hand.
“Mom, I brought someone in today. It’s been a long time since you’ve seen her, but this is Marley.”
Marley walks over to my side, grabbing my hand and squeezing.
“Hello, Mrs. James. You’ve raised an amazing boy,” she says, smiling over at me.
