The two strangers left the room. She sensed they had been there before but could not remember who they were and when they had been there.

Strange, she thought, how the mind works. Some days it’s as clear as the blue sky above her right now. Other days it’s as if she’s in a hurricane. The dark clouds and the rain and wind pushing her memories here and there.

She started talking to “Tom” again. At least that’s what she thinks his name is. He seemed to be the only one who understood her anymore. Sometimes she didn’t speak a word but he would nod right along as if he could read her mind.

The nurse walked in for her two hour check up. Has it been two hours already? Time doesn’t make much sense to her anymore. The only time she really remembers is day and night but being in this room with only a small window, sometimes she didn’t even know the difference.

“Who are you talking to Sam?” the nurse asked. Samantha just stared at her like she didn’t understand the question.

First she wondered who Sam was, her name was Samantha, then she wondered why the nurse asked such dumb questions all the time. Could she not see “Tom” sitting in the corner chair.

She just smiled at the nurse. Too tired for words. My God, when did she become so tired all the time? She remembers her youth when she was so active. Often walking two or three miles a day and swimming for an hour.

She loved the beach. She can still remember her kids so small. How they would spend all day on the beach eating bigger than your face slices of pizza and following that with eat it fast before it melts ice cream.

She wondered where her kids are now. Shouldn’t she be making them lunch or dinner? What time is it anyway she thought?

She shuffled across the room to admire the flowers the strangers left. She loved flowers. So much so she often got in trouble for borrowing flowers from other tenants that lived on her same floor.

Oh yes, the strangers. Were they just here yesterday, or was that today? Would they be back?

She hoped they would be. She liked how they smiled at her and talked to her. They did her nails and they looked at old photographs with her. They kind of looked like how she thought her kids would look when they grew up.

For the life of her she could not understand why they called her mom. But she liked hearing those words.

And for the life of her she could not understand why they told her they loved her and missed her. They said they would be back soon. Yes they did say that. She liked that. She couldn’t wait for them to come back.

Then she said to “Tom,” you know I like them two. They remind me of my young ones.

Then she looked out into the hallway and said I miss you all, I’ll be home soon.

Tell Me Your Name (Diane’s Song) by Jason Michael Montgomery-

Help Me Remember by Hayes Carll-

Don’t Lose Heart by Steven Curtis Chapman-

Every Man Becomes A Boy At Times by Jon Lowry-

I Know Who He Is by William Michael Morgan-

I Will Remind You by Brian Asselin-

Afire Love by Ed Sheran-

She Misses Him by Tim Rushlow-