On her 75th birthday, Mrs. Anna was engulfed by a profound feeling of isolation. Instead of being enveloped by the presence of her loved ones, she found herself seated on a bench in the prison garden, tears flowing down her cheeks. Both her son and daughter had failed to convey their warm wishes or offer any congratulations on this momentous occasion.
Despite the overwhelming sadness that consumed her, a glimmer of comfort emerged when a considerate neighbor from the ward provided her with a consoling handkerchief, while a kind-hearted nurse presented her with an apple as a gesture of recognition. Although residing in what appeared to be a pleasant boarding house, Mrs. Anna encountered an unyielding indifference from the staff who showed little regard for her well-being.
Once, Mrs. Anna had been living contentedly in her own apartment when her son approached her, requesting to have the property registered in his name. He assured her that nothing would change, and she would continue to reside there. Trusting her son’s words, she agreed, but to her surprise, he and his wife moved into her apartment. Unfortunately, her daughter-in-law harbored constant dissatisfaction with Mrs. Anna’s actions, straining their relationship. Initially, the son stood up for his mother, but over time, he grew increasingly apathetic to their conflicts. Mrs. Anna began noticing secretive conversations between her son and daughter-in-law, which further troubled her.
Soon, she was instructed to pack her belongings and move to a boarding house for rest and recovery. Bitterly disappointed, Mrs. Anna looked into her son’s eyes and lamented, “You’re taking me to a nursing home, son.” He reassured her that it would only be for a month, but he never returned. Two long years passed without a single visit from her son or daughter. To make matters worse, Mrs. Anna cursed her daughter in the name of her son, as their strained relationship became an unfortunate reality.
Since then, they had been estranged for two decades. If time could be turned back, Mrs. Anna wished she had instilled independence in her son and offered financial support to her daughter. Lost in such contemplations, her legs nearly gave way beneath her, but her daughter swiftly came to her aid, catching her before she fell. “Wow, I’ve been searching for you for so long,” her daughter exclaimed. “My brother didn’t tell me where you were, but I promised him I would find you.” With these words, they entered the building and settled on a sofa in the hall, engaging in a heartfelt and lengthy conversation.
During their reunion, Mrs. Anna discovered that she now had two grandchildren and that her son had become a supportive figure in his daughter’s life. They all resided together in a spacious three-room apartment, with the daughter’s husband wholeheartedly embracing the arrangement. Throughout the day, Mrs. Anna’s daughter and her husband worked diligently, while the children found joy and companionship in their grandmother’s presence at home. Grateful for this newfound sense of belonging, Mrs. Anna expressed her gratitude to her family each day, leaving behind those past days as if they were a haunting nightmare.