Role Reversal

Written in response to https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/13/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-13th-2023/

Role reversal, mother and daughter, changing over her retirement from work.

Alzheimer’s, and sometimes she remembered, called her Lillian. Their conversation was only a snippet of their former relationship, but Sarah kept it close to her heart. She taped them, and in the days when she was nothing more than a jailer, she listened to her mother professing her love.

It was a day, when she expected nothing more than disagreements. A song played on the radio, when she was old enough to borrow her mum’s shoes. They sang together, ”I will survive”.

‘Sarah, do you want to dance?’

It wasn’t Sarah, but her daughter she chose to dance with that afternoon. Sarah smiled, watching the bond burst beyond her frail memories. They twisted on the floor, laughing together.

‘I love you Grannie.’

‘Grannie? Sarah I am your mummy and I love you too silly.’

Sarah moved forward, and a glance of recognition smoothed the lines on her face, she took hold of her daughter’s palm. ‘Love you Sarah, and Sheila too, please remember always.’

A click, and another memory made, even if her mum forgot those words, she never would. The song finished, her mum sat back down.

‘I love you Mum,’ she said.