Chapter 22 - Mom’s Diagnosis
We completed a proper geriatric evaluation.
Not because Chloe deserved one last chance to be right.
Because Mom was seventy-eight and had genuinely experienced stress, weight loss, sleep disruption, and occasional forgetfulness.
Testing showed mild age-associated changes.
No evidence at that time of a major neurocognitive disorder.
She was still capable of making her own decisions.
She looked at me after the appointment.
“So I’m not crazy.”
I hated the word.
“No.”
“Say it.”
“You’re not crazy.”
“Your wife made me think I was.”
“I know.”
Then she said something harder.
“You helped.”
I looked down.
“Yes.”
That apology took longer than the one I gave Maya.
Maybe because this one belonged to childhood roles.
A son does not enjoy admitting he failed his mother.
Still true.
“I should have listened.”
“Yes.”
No comforting:
You didn’t know.
May you like
Mom was not ready to make my guilt easier.
She did not owe me that.
