The Red Cardinal

Mark sat next to his motionless mother.

“How is she doing today,” Mark asked the nurse. A red cardinal perchedon the window sill chirped.

“The same. Quiet and still.”

Mark opened his journal and wrote the date. He spent his time writinghappy moments with his mother rather than spending time on a novel.

“Mom, look. There’s a red cardinal, your favorite bird.” Sophia’s mouthsagged, expressionless.

He sighed. “Mom, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Mark left the room with a blank space in his journal. Alzheimer’s tookhis mother away and he didn’t know how to endure the emptiness.

From Guest Contributor Lisa M. Scuderi-Burkimsher