Senility

Much more

Lipstick.
Red lipstick.
I put on red lipstick that night
Before I walked out the door.

Just before I reached the threshold,
I heard my name from the kitchen.
Soft, but firm. It seemed urgent.
It was Janet.

I found her sitting at the table
Wine in her hand and a furrow in her brow
She seemed concerned.
"Elisa?"

I asked if she was ok.
I asked if she needed something.

"Protect her," was all she said,
"Protect my granddaughter."

JANET said that to me.
Not a victim of delusions
Not a list of medications
Not a woman trapped in fantasy.
JANET BARNWALL said that to me.

Janet the mother,
The grandmother,
The friend.

If anyone tells me she was gone completely,
locked away by that dreaded disease
lost in her own body
or drowned by her own mind

I answer with this story,
This quick little story
when Janet Barnwall spoke to me.

Author's Note

In honor of a good friend. I hope you enjoyed this one. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!