Two Sisters, One Brother

Dad had two sisters, Angie and Edie. Angie was in nursing care, fifteen years into deep, silent dementia. Edie lived alone in the house she had shared with Angie. Dad avoided visiting Angie: “What’s the use?” Edie visited her daily, and Junior looked in on his monthly trips to town.

When constant smoker Edie contracted lung cancer, she needed nursing care, and moved into Angie’s room. But Edie passed away quickly.

“Dad, please visit Angie. Now that Edie’s gone, she’s started talking. It’s hard to understand, but maybe—”

“Junior, is Angie sorry Edie’s gone, or that she went first?”