She checks the time and jumps up in a panic. Dad’s scuffle while preparing for early morning walks to loosen up his arthritis is her trusted wakeup call. But her crippling anxiety kept her awake for most of the night.
After watching back-to-back episodes of her new favorite show, she finally settled down for the sleep that would never come. It didn’t take long for her racing heart and noisy eardrums to prompt her eyes wide open.
She consumed the dark with sweaty frustration, until the welcomed distraction of her favorite Pandora station calmed her nerves enough to seduce dreams that came too late for completion.
The morning ritual of a Buddhist chant is rushed to avoid forecasted rain showers that will commence before she’s able to complete the three miles of brisk walking.
As she massages her knees she’s reminded of why she can longer resort to running like the good old days, when she was young enough to enjoy it without wincing.
She exits the small bathroom she shares with her parents in the modest one-bedroom apartment, featuring eye-popping views of imposingly large trees with greenery hanging like chandeliers. She briefly notices through the slightly open door that her father is still in bed.
She knew the pain in his joints was getting worse, but now it’s clear he needs another evaluation…
