Bittersweet Obsession

Tamara's immediate reaction was one of disbelief and skepticism, with her brow furrowing as she struggled to process her mother's words. After a moment of silence, she let out a deep sigh of frustration and hurt. "Seriously, Mom? What are you talking about?"

"You're not my daughter."

Tamara heard the words for the second time. She felt a surge of impatience with the conversation, but couldn't shake off the shock it still brought.

Taking a deep breath, she paused for a moment before responding, "Mom..."

Ignoring her, her mother repeated, "I want Brianna. Where's she?" she asked, her voice sounding different from what Tamara had ever heard before the dementia set in. It was like a child's voice, helpless and demanding. Her mother had never been one to whine about anything before. Nose to the grindstone, her mother used to say. No time for complaining if you're busy. But now, her mom's body wasn't busy anymore.

Tamara quickly assured her mother, "Alright, Mom. I'll call Brianna right away. She's probably still outside somewhere."

Suddenly, her mother broke down into tears, her sobs resembling those of a child. It was a sight that shook Tamara to her core.

Despite her mother's chronic illness, Tamara had always known her as a pillar of strength. In that moment, she felt as though she was facing a stranger. The dementia had unexpectedly taken over, changing her mother in ways that were both unfamiliar and distressing.

Her hands trembled slightly as she dialed Brianna's number. Each ring felt like an eternity as she anxiously waited for her sister to pick up. With each passing moment, her nerves only seemed to intensify, her mind racing with worry about how Brianna would react to the news about their mother's condition.

Tamara knew deep down that Brianna probably wouldn't care much, but she figured it was worth a shot to try reaching her anyway.

Despite her doubts, she couldn't shake off the sense of foreboding gnawing at her gut. It felt like something devastating was about to happen, and the thought weighed heavily on her mind as she waited for Brianna to pick up the phone. After several attempts, Tamara finally heard a response on the other end of the line. The voice that greeted her sounded weary and hoarse, adding to her growing sense of unease.

"Hey, finally! What took you so long to pick up?" She asked in a casual tone, trying to hide the urgency in her voice.

"Ugh, what do you want, Tamara?" Brianna snapped back as harsh as ever.

"Look, I need you to come back home right now."

"Ugh, seriously? Can't it wait?"

"Please, Brianna, this is important. Mom needs us."

"Stop bothering me. I have better things to do," Brianna retorted sharply, her tone dripping with disdain. "Seriously, can't you handle Mom on your own for once?"

"This is different. Mom's really not doing well," Tamara explained with concern. She continued to describe their mother's condition briefly. "No, Brianna, listen. Mom's condition has gotten worse. She was unconscious, and her breathing sounds labored. I'm really worried about her. Also, she's been showing signs of dementia, and it's really scary. She keeps asking for you, Brianna. She needs us now more than ever. We need to get together and figure out what to do." There was a heavy silence between them before Brianna responded languidly. "Yeah, yeah. Fine, I'll come over," Brianna replied softly with resignation. "But don't expect me to stay long."

Letting out a heavy sigh of irritation, she replied indifferently, "Whatever. Just... make it fast."

With a heavy heart, she ended the call and glanced over at her mother, who was now whimpering like a child.

Tamara rushed to her mother's side, trying to comfort her as best as she could.

When Brianna finally came back and opened the door, Tamara felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Brianna! You're finally here. Come here and see for yourself. Mom's not doing well at all. I need your help," she urged, gesturing towards their mother's bedside.

Brianna's eyes widened as she looked at her mother, who was whimpering and crying in a way she had never seen before.

She remained quiet as she approached, extending her hand to gently touch her mother's arm.

"Hey, Mom. It's me, Brianna. How are you feeling?"

"Brianna! Oh, dear! I'm so glad you're here," Amber exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement and relief amidst her sobs, like a child who had just received a precious gift.

"See? Mom's been asking for you," she added softly, hoping to convey the serious situation to her sister.

As Tamara walked over, Amber blurted out the words again with a hard attempt. "You... you are not my daughter," her voice strained with emotion and confusion.

Brianna's eyes widened in shock and bewilderment as she glanced at Tamara, unsure of how to react to their mother's unexpected words.

Their eyes locked in a moment, before Tamara responded bitterly, "I don't know what's going on. But that's what Mom kept saying when she woke up from unconsciousness. Maybe the dementia... it took over her senses. The line between fantasy and reality seemed blurred. But she remembered you, not me."

Amber's voice faltered as she struggled to speak about the truth that had been weighing on her mind. "Ta... Tamar..." she began, her words hesitant and fragmented. Her feeble voice trembled as she added, "Tamara, check... the box... inside the wardrobe. It's... for you."

Her shifted her gaze to Brianna, her words coming out in labored breaths. "Brianna... You must... live well... Promise me."

As they remained silent there, trying to make sense of their mother's words, suddenly, she convulsed in a seizure. Tamara and Brianna watched in horror as their mother's body shook uncontrollably, her cries filling the room. It felt like an eternity before the seizure finally subsided, leaving their mother exhausted and weak.

Once she calmed down, Amber reached out to them, her hand trembling. With tears in her eyes, she whispered her last words, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry... my darlings. I love you both so much. Take care of each other." And with that, she closed her eyes for the last time, her hand falling limply to her side.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

The room fell into a heavy silence as Tamara and Brianna realized that their mother was gone. This time was forever.