“Alice, hey! Why aren’t you feeding Grandma?” – asked the neighbor when she saw her outside the store: She said she hadn’t eaten in three days, so I gave her some candies

Alice was stacking cans on the shelf at the local grocery store when her neighbor, Naomi, approached her with a concerned look. “Alice, hey! Why aren’t you feeding Grandma?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry. Alice paused, her hands frozen on a can of beans. “What do you mean?” she replied, puzzled.

Naomi sighed, “I saw her yesterday, and she told me she hadn’t eaten in three days. I gave her some candies I had in my purse. Alice, she’s your grandmother.”

Alice felt a sting of guilt. She had been so caught up with her job and her own life that she hadn’t visited her grandmother, Sofia, who lived just a few blocks away, in nearly a week. “I… I’ve been really busy,” Alice stammered, avoiding Naomi’s gaze.

“That’s no excuse. She’s family,” Naomi said sharply before walking away, leaving Alice in a swirl of her own troubled thoughts.

Later that evening, Alice’s brother, Bruce, called. “Alice, I don’t know what to do. James wants to go to the beach, but we’re taking care of Grandma,” he said, sounding frustrated.

“Why are you telling me this?” Alice asked, her voice cold.

“Maybe you can look after her for a month?” Bruce suggested. Alice was silent for a moment. She worked full-time and barely managed her own affairs. “I work, you know. But fine, you can bring her over,” she finally conceded, not fully grasping what she had agreed to.

Bruce was relieved and quickly made arrangements. Within a few days, Grandma Sofia was settled into Alice’s small apartment. The initial days were rough. Sofia often forgot where she was and would get upset easily. Alice tried her best to be patient, but the constant care and attention her grandmother needed were overwhelming.

One evening, after a particularly long day at work, Alice came home to find Sofia anxiously pacing the living room. “I want to go home. You don’t want me here,” Sofia said, her voice quivering.

Alice’s patience snapped. “This is your home now! I’m trying my best, Grandma!” she shouted, immediately regretting her outburst as she saw her grandmother shrink back, a mix of confusion and fear in her eyes.

Days turned into weeks, and the strain grew. Alice found herself avoiding spending time at home, staying late at work, or wandering aimlessly around the neighborhood just to have a moment’s peace.

One day, coming home from one of her long walks, Alice found her apartment unusually quiet. She called out for her grandmother but received no response. A sinking feeling in her chest, she walked into the living room to find Sofia slumped over in her chair, unresponsive.

Panicked, Alice called for an ambulance, but it was too late. Sofia had passed away quietly in her sleep. The guilt and grief hit Alice like a wave. She had failed to provide the care her grandmother needed and deserved.

In the days that followed, as relatives gathered and condolences poured in, Alice couldn’t help but feel isolated, her heart heavy with the knowledge that her grandmother’s last days were marked by neglect and misunderstanding.