The Stranger Within 14

Episode Finale

Jamila did a good at the awareness, they called her back the next day and the next and the day after it. Couple of months later, she slipped into depressed while Charles drifted into third stage. She stayed by his side, she barely stepped out of his room. Everyone became extremely worried about her. She lost appetite and gradually lost weight, she became sick. Jacqueline moved into the Alabi’s home to help out with her sister.
Several people frequented their home. They needed tips on how to care for their elderly who had one form of dementia. During those visits were the only time she stepped out of his room. Maro’s mother eventually came around, she understood Jamila after the awareness. Not her alone, but others too. She allowed her son to spend time with her. Christmas and new year celebration came and went in a flash. She got worse and so did Charles, they feared each day was his last. She cried miserably every night. All effort to get through to her proved futile.

“Can I take aunt Jay out for a walk?” Maro couldn’t sit idle anymore hoping she would come around. He needed her to see other reasons to live. He was given permission.
He thought long and hard on how to get her out of the house after failed attempts in the past. Few days later, Maro’s mother barged into the Alabi yelling her son was sick and had been asking for Jamila. That was enough to lure her out.
She rushed outside only to discover it was a prank. They laughed at her. He convinced her to take a walk which she reluctantly agreed to.
“Do you remember when we all went out for picnic?” Maro started initiating a conversation.
“What about it?”
“Charles asked us to promise him we won’t forget him because a time would come when he won’t remember us. He said if you would forget me then I wouldn’t want to forget you.”

“He will always be in my heart, it is possible forget him”
“You forgot us aunt Jay. You forgot family, your best friend, how to live, you forgot everything” she glanced at him.
“Maro forgot how to demand all of my time, Mr Alabi forgot how to tease his wife, his wife forgot how to worry and complain, Jacqueline forgot how to act impulsive, my parents forgot how to yell at me when I don’t pick their calls”
“We forgot everything because you forgot how to smile and be happy” Maro said sadly. “Holidays haven’t been fun since you lost your laughter”
Maro lost interest in the walk, he headed home. The first time he got to talk to her after several months wasn’t what he hoped.

---

“Why the sudden interest in calender?” Mr Alabi questioned. The sight of his wife and a calender in hand on bed was odd.
“Alzheimer’s patient rarely make ten years span from diagnosis”
“It depends on the age and progressive rate of the patient” he said getting into bed.
“After Charles got diagnosis on ten percent chance of head injuries sustained not largely known cause which is genetic factor, I began to believe in the odd.”
“You believe in something or fall for anything” her husband muttered.

“Let me check on him, she might call anytime soon asking about him. It’s nice she went out and that too in company of Maro and her sister”
“Charles has less than six months left to live, what happens to our daughter? How will she cope?” he asked. His phone rang.
“They had an accident” he blurted out after the call ended. She was shocked.
“That was the hospital, there has been an accident. Jamie, Jackie and Maro are in the critical condition. We have to go now but what about him? You have to stay here”
“I can’t, they need us both and you are wasting time. We have to go!” his wife barked at heading for the door.
“Go to the hospital, I will stay back. Give me regular updates” Mr Alabi suggested and gave her address of the hospital. She quickly dashed out.

---

Jacqueline and Maro regained consciousness after a few days but sustained injuries. Jamila was yet to gain consciousness, doctors monitored her closely. The Alabi’s and Emerson’s spent weeks at the hospital, praying she pulled through. A nurse was paid to look after Charles while they were away. After weeks of waiting, Jamila died.
It was an unexpected event. Everyone of them had hoped she would pull through, she had every reason to stay alive but didn’t. Merely two month after she died, Charles died.
It was a rough time for the Alabi’s. Their home lost it’s vibrant colour. Grieving a loved one’s demise doesn’t begin from the last breath, alzheimer’s taught them that. They grieved again for their son. Her unexpected departure was heart wringing. None of them spoke about Jamila or Charles’ death.

They used distance to cope with what was too painful to confront. They just shut out the facts and the aching emotions in order to keep moving forward. The pattern of moving on without dwelling on loss, helped the family to survive. Well-meaning neighbour made efforts to talk with them but it was futile.
Time passed by, Mr Alabi could still feel the deep hurt and helplessness after his children died. His wife cried in his arms every night, calling out their names. He had no idea how to speak with her about their loss. The shock wave of his children’s death was evident for a long time.

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Maro buried himself in his book, he didn’t hear his mother enter his room. His head was bowed and she thought he fell asleep. She touched him from behind, he jerked her hand away.
“What do you want?” he questioned her rudely.
“At some point, you have to talk about how you feel. It is better than shutting out feelings in order to move on”
“Stop it!” He barked flaring up. “Don’t act like you are worried, I am perfectly fine. Why shouldn’t I be? Oh I forgot you killed her”
“Maro!” His mother yelled.
“Bitter truth uh? You and everyone who hated her killed her. Think about it, you started to like her and boom she died. Why didn’t you continue to hate her so she would live? I would have love you so much more if you had not waited till her awareness campaign to befriend her”
“I’m sorry”
“Don’t be, she isn’t dead. She is alive in my heart and will always be” he walked out.
He went to Charles home. Nothing had been the same since both of them left. He met Mrs Alabi in Jamila’s room, holding a picture frame and smiling.
“You seem happy”
“I found myself just enjoying the picture, her personality shining through them, hard working, loving and cheerful. There was never a dull moment when she was here”
“Was here? I thought we were shutting out feelings in order to move on and normal routines resumed.”
“Look at you speaking like a grown up.” she paused briefly. “You had a with your mom?”
He didn’t bother to ask how she knew. He had a contorted face and was sulking.
“I don’t want her or fake friends showing sympathy. They all killed her. If they hadn’t attended her awareness, they would still hate her and she would be here”
“Hate is a wrong word. They were concerned but showed it in a wrong way” None of them spoke.
They sat quietly, woolgathering moments spent with her. One could almost hear her laughter in complete silence.

---

Charles doctor showed up one morning couples of months later. No one expected him. He gave them an address, seeking their presence in an important event. They thought it was another alzheimer’s awareness. They had to wait till the next day.
Mr Alabi had left for work after his visit. His wife and Jacqueline were home, they barely spoke to each other. Her sister and her son were the only connection they had, since they seize to exist, communication was hard.

“Are you alright? You haven’t touched your food” Mrs Alabi said joining her at the table.
“I miss her. I miss his rackets and tantrums. If she was here, she would complain about him.”
“She would argue with him just to get him to speak”
“When they went out, she would lecture everyone and anyone who questioned his action” Jacqueline said forcing a smile. “I can’t live here anymore” she added.
“You don’t have to stay here Jackie. We won’t be offended if you had to leave, we will support you. I don’t think you are happy here. You can’t always live off her memories, you have your whole life ahead of you”

---

“Are we at the right place?” Mrs Alabi asked admiring the beautiful house in front of them.
“It looks like a family house. Charles doctor called us here” her husband replied.
They got down from the car. A car drove in, it was Jamila’s parents and the doctor.
Is this a family event? Mrs Alabi wondered.
“Thanks for coming. I know you all are wondering why I called you here especially when those connecting us is dead.” The doctor told them. He dug his hands into his pocket and produced a letter. He read it out:

I didn’t always tell my parents how lucky I am to have them but I showed it a lot. God bless me with another parents and they showed bravery and courage. I learnt bravery from them. They stood by their son after stricken with a terrible disease, they refuse to give up on their son. They opened their heart to alzheimer. Their home became alzheimer’s infected home which society was against and it hurt a lot. I did this so another family wouldn’t go through same fate. When another alzheimer family prays for a miracle, their prayer is answered through Alabi Alzheimer Home.

“This house in front of you is Alabi Alzheimer home” the doctor announced proudly. “Every paper work is done, it is properly equipped and set to function. You just have to accept it as a parting gift from your children”
“Jamila and Charles did this?” Mrs Alabi asked puzzled.
“She used his money for a good course and her money went into the project too. The surprise is inside, come with me” the doctor opened the door and they trooped in. They were astonished. The house was exactly like the Alabi’s only bigger and spacious.
“I remember she said when you all get to step into the house, it should feel like stepping into your home. A safe home for alzheimer patients, away from preying and meddling eyes of society. Does it feel like home?” doctor asked. They were all stunned.
“A home Charles would have been happy in. She put in a lot of work into this, when did she find time?” Mr Emerson inquired.
“She told me to handle everything. The home pays half of any patient bill and there are investments and sponsors, no need worrying about money issue.” the doctor told them calming their nerves.
“Thanks a lot” Mr Alabi said.

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Maro was having a hard time coping with Jamila’s absence. He felt those who befriend her were responsible for her demise. His school grade dropped, he lost interest in several things. His parents became worried. His mother decided to speak to her neighbour. She might get through to him.
“Can I come in?”
Mrs Alabi held the door wide open. She wondered why her sudden visit. Was it Maro?
“Is Maro alright? You look worried”
“Since Jamila died, he haven’t been the same. I don’t know what to do.” Maro’s mother vented out.

“She did leave a big hole in our hearts, it’s alright if he is sad. He is also angry at lot of people, you guys didn’t ask what she wanted. He believes a person is entitled to whatever life he or she wants to live without interference.”
“She put up with such a devastating disease as alzheimer, how could she be happy? Nobody would want to handle such”
Mrs Alabi managed a weak smile.
“Nobody would want to handle such but she did. She had lots of opportunity to leave but didn’t, nobody forced her to stay. She was happy. Her jovial mood wasn’t a pretence. They don’t know that hence Maro is angry”
“She was also in love with him.” her neighbour admitted.

“Don’t worry, he will come around. Did you know she built an alzheimer’s home?”
Maro’s mother was stunned.
“She built an alzheimer’s home for Charles to protect him from meddling people who don’t understand. Sadly Jamila isn’t here”
“I will take Maro there once he gets back. If he help alzheimer’s caregiver, he will feel he is helping Jamie. He will let go of anger.” Mrs Alabi offered. She thanked her and left.
Mrs Alabi hoped she was right. At some point, each of them had to move on. She waited for Maro to return from school. She told him she had a huge surprise for him. She took him to Alabi Alzheimer’s home.

“Wow! You did this? It’s so lovely…wait why do I feel like you want me to forget aunt Jamie.” Maro was puzzled.
“I don’t want you to forget her that’s why I brought you here. You get to help other alzheimer patient like you helped my son”
“My mother knocked this idea in your head?”
She smiled. She pulled him to walk along as they toured the home.

“Jamie did this, a safe haven for alzheimer patients without society interference.” He smiled broadly. She continued. “I will work here full time if you offer to assist. I can’t handle both office and this place.”
“Of course I will” He hugged her.
They heard a nurse shouting, they rushed to the scene. It was an elderly woman with vascular dementia having a fit.
“What’s wrong?” Mrs Alabi inquired. The complain wasn’t a serious one. She wanted her fishing gear.
“They live in a world different from yours, there is no harm giving them what they want. Pampering them is needed” she told the nurse.
“The patient isn’t aware of anything going on, where do I get fishing stuff?” The nurse asked.

“You are wrong.” Maro said before she could respond. “They are aware of only one thing; Love. They don’t full comprehend it but feel it and need it. I know because have seen it.”
“Love is a strong emotion, it never douses, never reduces. Dementia in any form can’t take it away. It isn’t a memory, it is a feeling that residues in the heart and soul” Mrs Alabi confirmed. The nurse listened intently.
Maro turned to leave but stopped, he looked at the elderly woman. Aunt Jamie would have loved it here.
“If you learn to listen to how they feel instead of what they say, you will be able to understand them much better” he said the nurse.
“Sound like what Jamila Emerson-Alabi would say” Mrs Alabi confirmed. Maro smiled.

The End.

 

Kindness can transform someone’s  dark moment with a blaze of light. You will never know how much your caring matters. – Amy Leigh.

 

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Thank You, it’s been an eye opening journey.