The phone rang right at seven in the morning, just as Emily had gotten up and gone to the kitchen to put the kettle on. She glanced at the screen and frownedit was her younger sister, Charlotte.
“Charlie, whats happened? You know Ive only just woken up.”
“Em, come to Mums right now!” Charlottes voice was frantic. “Ive made the decision, Ive sorted all the paperwork. Were selling the flat and moving her to a nice care home.”
Emily nearly dropped the phone.
“What? What care home? What are you talking about?”
“Dont act like you dont get it! Mums losing her mind. Yesterday she left the gas on, the day before, the neighbour found her on the stairsshe couldnt remember which floor she lived on. We cant keep going like this!”
“Charlie, slow down. Lets talk properly. What paperwork have you done?”
“Power of attorney for selling the flat. Mum signed it herself. I told her it was for her own good.”
Emily felt everything inside her boil over.
“Have you lost it? How could you do this without even talking to me first? Mum has *two* daughters, in case you forgot!”
“And where have *you* been all this time?” Charlotte shot back. “Popping in once a week for an hour and thinking youve done your duty? Im here every day after worksorting her shopping, making sure she takes her meds!”
“I work from dawn till dusk, you know that! And I dont live just a few streets away like you do!”
“Exactly! Thats why *Im* making the decisions for Mum. If you want, come say goodbye to the flat. The estate agents coming tomorrow to value it.”
Charlotte hung up. Emily stood in the middle of the kitchen, phone in hand, unable to believe it. Her younger sister, who shed always thought of as a bit spoiled, had just taken it upon herself to decide their seventy-five-year-old mothers fate.
Emily threw on her coat and rushed to her mums. On the way, she remembered how, after their dad passed, shed taken on most of the carehelping with bills, sorting the house, taking her to appointments. Charlotte had still been at uni back then, living the easy life of a student.
Mums flat was on the fourth floor of an old five-storey building. Emily climbed the familiar stairs and knocked. Mum answeredMargaret Bennett, a small, thin woman with sharp brown eyes and a quiet strength.
“Emmy, love!” she said, brightening. “Youre here earlyis everything alright?”
“Mum, we need to talk. Seriously.”
They went into the kitchen. Mum put the kettle on and pulled some biscuits from the cupboard.
“Mum, tell me about yesterday. What did you do?”
Margaret thought for a moment.
“Got up, had breakfast. Then Charlotte came over. We talked about something. She brought some papers.”
“What papers, Mum?”
“I dont quite remember. She said it was important, for my own good. That I had to sign.”
“And you did?”
“Well, yes. Charlotte knows about these thingsshes an accountant.”
Emily clenched her fists. Mum might be forgetful, but that didnt mean shed lost the right to choose her own future.
“Mum, do you remember what Charlotte told you?”
“Something about a care home. Said Id be better off there, that theyd look after me. But I dont want to leave, Emmy. This is my home.”
Tears welled in her eyes. Emily pulled her into a hug.
“Youre not going anywhere, Mum. I wont let it happen.”
Then the doorbell rang. Charlotte had arriveda sharp-faced woman in a smart suit, hair neatly bobbed.
“Oh, youre already here,” she said, spotting Emily. “Good. Now we can talk like adults.”
“Adults?” Emily stood up. “You call tricking a vulnerable old woman *adult* behaviour?”
“I didnt trick anyone! Mum signed the papers herself.”
“Mum didnt *understand* what she was signing!”
“Girls, Im right here!” Margaret cut in. “And stop shouting in my house!”
The sisters fell silent. Mum rarely raised her voice, but when she did, everyone listened.
“Charlotte, explain againwhat did I sign yesterday?”
Charlotte sat beside her and took her hand.
“Mum, its a power of attorney so we can sell the flat. Ive found you a lovely care homeclean, quiet, theyve got a doctor, a proper cook. Youll have your own room, and we can visit whenever we like.”
“But I dont *want* to sell the flat,” Mum whispered. “My whole lifes here. Your dad lived here.”
“Mum, you have to understand, its not safe anymore”
In the end, after long discussions and advice from close relatives, the sisters reached a compromise: they hired a live-in carer to stay with Mum during the day while they took turns visiting in the evenings. Everyone was happyand the home full of memories stayed right where it belonged.
Sora Has Made the Decision for Everyone
