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In the elevator,Sarah was inside.Nathan instinctively stepped in front of me.
She stepped out,smiling.“Sorry,sister,I got a little too emotional yesterday and lost control.Paul said you’re sweet-tempered,you won’t hold it against me,right?”
Nathan’s neck veins bulged.He could kick Paul,but a woman?He held back.
I pulled him aside.
It had been the first time I'd ever been in a physical altercation, both hitting someone and getting slapped. It was an awful experience.
Both sucked.
“You…”Sarah froze,raising her hand to retaliate.
Nathan grabbed her wrist,pushing her back.
“We’re even now.I accept your apology.You can go,”I said.
She smirked,waving a paper in my face.“I’m pregnant.Twins.I can make Paul happy.”
I smiled.“Wish you happiness.”
The elevator returned.Nathan and I stepped in.
Sarah blocked the door.“You’ve got a boyfriend,so stop stringing Paul along,two-timing.”
“He loves me.You can’t have him.”
I nodded,warning,“Be careful,you might hurt the babies.”
She touched her belly,stepping back.
Then,tearfully,“Please,sister,let Paul go.I can’t live without him.The kids need a dad…”
The elevator door finally closed, and Nathan and I let out a sigh, laughing at how crazy she was.
What a nutcase.
Door cams showed Paul visited twice more,then stopped.
During a mid - exam proctor meeting, Paul messaged me through Mrs. Carter's account, asking me to visit when I had time—he said he had something important to discuss.
My heart sank.
Nathan was away.After work,I taxied to Mrs.Carter’s.
She was cooking,delighted to see me,seeming fine.I eyed Paul suspiciously.He signaled we’d talk later.
At dinner,she chatted about the exams.
After,Paul suggested a walk,telling Mrs.Carter to finish her strawberry jam—we’d take some home.
Once we were downstairs in a quiet corner,he said,“Emma,I’m sorry.Sarah has bipolar disorder,so…”
“What’s wrong with Mrs.Carter?”
“My mom… She has Alzheimer's,”
My mind stunned.
Alzheimer’s…
The words “Alzheimer's” and “dementia” echoed in my mind.
How could Mrs.Carter…
“One day,she went for a walk,didn’t return by nine,no phone.I found her at the complex gate.She said she was going home but couldn’t find it,just kept walking in circles.”
“She was thinking of our old house.”
“Emma?”
I nodded.“I understand.”
Mrs.Carter often complained of memory issues,but I never thought this.
