""I'll be back in a couple of hours," Dad said, leaving the house that late afternoon. "Two hours," I told1,"You can do this. "I took a long, deep breath and turned to2Mom. She couldn't see the3in my face. She4 with Alzheimer's(阿尔茨海默病). lf she had an episode(发作), I didn't know if I could 5it alone, especially at the end of the day.
On the one day a week I visited, I made myself6 cleaning the house, cooking meals and doing laundry. All the while Dad 7 Mom. But today he needed to go to a8, so Mom and I were on our own. As I watched her sleep soundly, I felt the 9leave my shoulders. I opened a book, and time passed peacefully10I became fully absorbed in the11.
Suddenly she sat upright. "Oh, no! The snow's getting on me. I'm so12. I'm scared. "
"Mom, you're safe. You're here at home. "
"Help me!" She grasped my hands13. I knew my words weren't enough when the anxiety took hold. I 14 for Dad to hurry home from his session. He would know how to help her. His presence always15 Mom when no one else seemed16to. What could I do? Just me, alone?
I did the only thing l could think of. I rubbed her forehead softly, just like she'd done for me as a17when I had a headache.
As the minutes wore on, Mom's heavy breathing18. The tension left her face. Soon l could hear the19 breathing of my sleeping mother. It was the20sound I'd ever heard.
