Sarah, another orderly who’d become my closest friend at the home, teased me about our relationship once in the break room.
“You know Gloria’s basically adopted you, right?” Sarah said. “It’s funny. She transferred in right before you were hired. Almost as if she were waiting.”
“She’s just lonely.”
“Daniel, she lights up when you walk into the room. That woman thinks the sun rises out of your pocket!”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I wasn’t used to being someone’s favorite anything.
Teased me about our relationship.
***
Then, a few weeks later, during a routine check, I noticed Gloria’s hands were trembling more than usual. Her color wasn’t right, and her breathing had a rattle to it that I recognized.
She caught me watching her, and instead of looking away, she pulled the old bag closer to her chest.
***
Three weeks after that morning, the ambulance came for Gloria. I rode with her, her bag next to me, because there was no one else to call.
