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2 days ago
KindaNotSmart
The Daily Call
Growing old is lonely. Iโm 72, and most days, itโs just me and the silence. Children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews - they all loved spending time with me when they were young. But life gets busy, and eventually, they just donโt have time for someone old and boring. I get it, I really do.
But not my son. At 33, he never drifted away. He calls me every single day, without fail. Our daily phone call. He also helps with my dementia, asks me the questions the doctor recommended: Do I know what year it is? What country we live in? My name? Age? Address? Itโs supposedly to keep my mรญnd sharp.
Lately, though, somethingโs been off about our calls. Could be my dementia, but sometimes I hear strange nรณise in the background - static, distant voices, whispers. He says itโs just a bad connection or blames the TV.
For the past three weeks, my son has been plannฤฑng to visit me. Iโm in Missouri, and heโs out in California, so itโs not easy. But todayโs the day. Heโs on his way. And as always, even though heโs coming to see me, we had our daily call. We went throuฤฃh the usual questions. My name, my age, my address. Then I got anฬงotheฬทr call, so I put him on hold.
โMaโam, this is Officer Roberts with the Los Angeles Polฤฑce Department. Iโm sorry to call you like this, but we need to speak with you about your son. Weโve been trying to reach his next of kin.โ
โWhatโs going on, Officer? Is he in some kind of trouble?โ
There was a pause, like he was choosing his words carefully. โIโm afraid itโs more serious than that. Iโm sorry you have to find out like this, but we just got the testฬ back. Weโre finding out the same time as you. Iโm afraid your sonโs bรธdy was found three weeks ago.โ
โNo, thatโs not possible. Iโve been talking to him every day. Heโs on the other line right now - heโs coming to visit me.โ
โMaโam, unfortunately itโs true. The DNA test was conclusive. If youโve been talking with anybody, please be aware that the person youโre speaking to isnโt your son.โ
My confusion turned to a cold, gripping fear. I hung up on the officer, my hand shaking, and switched back to the line with my sฦกn. I couldnโt speak, just held the phone to my ear in stunned silence. There was no sound, just heavy breathฤฑng on the other end.
In my head, I replayed myself answering all those questions - my name, my age, my address.
And then, just as the panic set in, the silence was shattered by a knock on my door. My bedroom door.
The voฤฑce on the phone, now low and distorted, whispered, โI'm hereา, MoM.โ The line went dead.