The elderly woman struggled to get out of bed. She braced herself against the wall, made her way to the door, and headed to the kitchen where she grabbed a bowl of crumbled bread before stepping into the yard.
It feels like Im rusting away. The chickens are clucking nonstop. Should I let them wander into the garden? I wont be able to catch them at night. What am I thinking? Soon enough my daughterinlaw will send me to a nursing home.
She opened the coop door, and seven hens fluttered out, followed by a proud rooster. The old woman scattered crumbs on the ground for them, then went to the bathroom.
When she returned, she glanced at her garden.
Gavina, a neighbor called from behind the fence. Still as busy as ever? Youre almost ninety now.
How could I not be, Felícia? Gavina walked over. The cabbage and carrots are still waiting to be harvested. Lucky Miguel and his Irina took the potatoes.
You have a wonderful grandson!
Its hard for him now without his father, the old lady began to weep.
Enough, Gavina, no more tears, the neighbor tried to console her. Your son isnt suffering any longer. He spent a year unable to move. How do you think he felt? Now he watches over you from above.
Felícia, he was only sixty. Strong as he was! In just a year he withered and died.
Soon Ill join my son, too.
Dont rush, Gavina! You still have time. Live a little longer!
Yes, how can I live here? My legs barely hold me up, she sighed heavily. Its late September, the cold is coming. Alone, how will I survive?
But you have your daughterinlaw and grandchildren.
Oh, Felícia, what are you talking about? Miguel has three children and his mother lives with him. Joana, with two kids, lives in a oneroom apartment.
And Catarina, the daughterinlaw?
She only thinks about my death. When they held Danilos fortyday memorial, I heard her tell Joana that she planned to sell my house and buy an apartment for herself.
Dont believe that, Gavina!
Joana is my granddaughter; I hope she lives decently.
And you?
Theyll probably send me to a nursing home, I guess. At least there someone will look after me. Here Im even scared to light the stove, and I have no firewood. Ill freeze, and no one will notice.
Thank you, Felícia! Well, Im off, she waved her hands. Ive let the chickens out. Theyre heading to the garden. Ill collect the eggs!
The yards owner walked toward the coop.
In the morning, Gavina felt the chill deepen. She didnt want to leave the covers, but she had to.
She rose, curled up against the cold, wrapped herself in a blanket, and stepped outside. Barely had she fed the chickens when her grandsons car pulled up in front of the house. He usually visited on weekends, but today was Wednesday. The old woman sensed a change looming in her life.
Hello, Grandma!
Did something happen? Gavina asked, her face tight.
Its time you stop living here alone, she said, gesturing toward the sky. Winter is coming.
And the chickens? The cabbage and carrots are still waiting to be picked, the elderly woman lamented.
Grandma, Ill take care of the chickens. Ill harvest the cabbage and carrots while you get ready. Hurry up!
Gavina took her time dressing. She had lived there for over sixty years, since Manuel brought her as his wife. Danilo was born in that house. Fifteen years had passed since Manuel died, and now Danilo was gone. She sat on a bench and began to cry.
She stayed seated for a while, then sprang up, looked out the window. Her grandson had already gathered all the carrots and was cutting the cabbagean impressive haul of large heads. She sighed deeply and started packing.
What should I take? Leaving everything feels wrong, but I cant bring it all. Will the nursing home allow so many belongings? Ill take the photo album to remember my life, gather all documents. Theyll sell the housewhat if they cant find all the paperwork? I need clothes. The new owners will come, and everything will be discarded.
Grandma, are you taking long? her grandson interrupted. Ive already harvested the carrots and cabbage. I stored everything in the shed. Ill be back this weekend to distribute it all.
He loaded her things into the car, helped her in, and drove off. Gavina watched from the window, saying goodbye to the village.
The town was close. Soon fivestory buildings appeared. The car stopped.
Oh, were at Danilos house, Gavina thought, surprised. Did my grandson bring me here to say goodbye to my daughterinlaw?
Hello, Aunt Gavina! Catarina greeted, smiling and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Hello, Catarina! Gavina thought, She must be afraid I wont leave the house to her.
Aunt Gavina, weve cleared a room for you, the one Danilo used in his final days, her daughterinlaw said, beginning to cry.
We renovated it, she added, pushing her motherinlaw toward the room. We bought a new bed and a wardrobe.
Catarina, the old woman finally understood, so youre not sending me to a nursing home?
Mom, please, enough!
Why are they crying?
Grandma, where did you get the idea wed sell your house? the grandson laughed. Well turn it into a vacation retreat for everyone. Well spend the summer there, and the forest is right nearby.
Gavinas heart filled with joy. After all, she had such wonderful grandchildren.
What a daughterinlaw I have! How could I have missed this for forty years?
Elderly Woman Fights to Stand Up and Make Her Way to the Garden with a Bowl of Bread.
