The Pharmacist

Alice opened her eyes and looked at the stranger tiptoeing from her room.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.’ The woman turned and apologised.

‘It’s okay. I was only dozing. What time is it?’

‘Nearly three, I came to see if you’d like a cup of tea?’

‘Yes, please. You’re new, aren’t you? I’ve not seen you before?’ Alice was unsure if she could trust her memory anymore. Perhaps she had met this woman previously?

‘Yes, my name’s Sarah Priestly. I usually work upstairs, but Mavis is on holiday for a fortnight, so I’m helping out on this floor. I’ll just get that tea for you, Mrs Roberts, won’t be a minute.’ Sarah’s smile lit up her face and Alice thought this pretty woman would certainly make a pleasant change from Mavis. When she returned with the tea a few minutes later, Sarah seemed in no hurry to leave and asked if there was anything else she could do for Alice.

‘Apart from helping me to escape, no, not really.’ She smiled so Sarah would see she was only half-serious.

‘Are you in for respite, Mrs Roberts?’

‘I’m not exactly sure why I’m here, and please call me Alice. It appears I’m deemed unsafe to live alone and I’m having trouble accepting certain facts, which to my mind, are not true. Even things which I’m certain about are apparently wrong, so I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but I do know that I’m being kept against my will, and I thought that was illegal.’

At such stark words, Sarah’s eyes widened.

‘Please don’t look so shocked. I’m probably just rambling.’

‘You don’t sound like you’re rambling to me, but the mind can play tricks on you at times, particularly after an illness or an infection. Hopefully, you’ll feel better soon.’

‘Thank you. You’re very kind and a refreshing change from Mavis. How long have you worked here, Sarah?’

‘Actually, I’m just a volunteer helping out wherever I’m needed, and I’ve only been here a couple of weeks. We only moved to Penrith six weeks ago.’

‘Really? I’m new to the area too. Where did you live before?’ Alice was warming to this newcomer who didn’t seem to be in a hurry to get away, unlike most other staff.

‘We lived in Leeds, my husband’s a police officer and we’ve moved further north to be nearer to our sons.’

‘How lovely for you. I lived in Matlock, do you know it?’

‘Yes, it’s such a beautiful part of the world. What did you do in Matlock, Alice?’

‘I taught in a primary school, reception mainly, little ones are so rewarding.’ A faint smile crossed her face at the memory.

‘Which school did you teach at?’

‘Hayfield Primary but I retired last year. My husband, Tom, is in the process of winding up his business interests before he retires, too, so he’s been travelling a lot.’ Alice’s eyes suddenly clouded and a frown crossed her face,

‘That is, I think he must be travelling – we were looking forward to settling down to a quiet retirement, but I’m not sure what’s happening now. Rachel, that’s my daughter, keeps insisting Tom’s dead – yet I know he isn’t. How would I forget something like that? Perhaps I am going mad after all.’ Alice wasn’t entirely sure of her facts but instinctively felt that Tom was alive and wondered why her daughter would tell such hateful lies. She looked towards the window and a longing to be outside stirred within her, to feel the rain on her face and know she was still alive. Alice almost forgot someone else was in her room until a voice intruded into her thoughts.

‘Do you have any grandchildren?’ Sarah asked.

‘Yes. My daughter has a little girl, Millie. She’s five now and such a gorgeous child. I don’t see nearly enough of her, which is another reason why we moved here from Matlock. Rachel leads such a busy life, she’s a single mum, and we thought we’d be able to help care for Millie in the school holidays while she works. She goes to a childminder now, but she’ll be much better off with family.’ Alice frowned. Something was niggling at the back of her mind, something concerning Millie that she wanted to discuss with Rachel. It was a terrible feeling, like when you knew a name but couldn’t quite bring it to mind, yet Alice knew that whatever it was, it was important.

‘There’s something about Millie that I can’t remember.’ Her frown deepened.

‘Illness can be cruel, Alice, but a little time in here will help you to get better. Is your daughter coming to visit today?’

‘Maybe, but honestly, I’m not even sure what day it is today.’ A tear escaped from her eye and slid down her cheek. Sarah passed her a tissue from the box on the bedside table.

‘Please don’t get upset. I’m sure everything will be fine soon. The doctors here are excellent.’ She squeezed her hand. ‘Look, is there anything else I can get you? There’s bingo in the day-room later if you’d like to join in, or I could bring you a couple of books from the library downstairs?’

‘You’re very kind, but I don’t fancy bingo. A book would be nice, though, if I can stay awake long enough to read it. All this medication they give me makes me so drowsy.’ Alice made an effort to smile and Sarah left her to drink the tea, promising to bring her some books later.

* * *

Sarah didn’t quite know what to make of Alice Roberts; she wasn’t like the others in the unit. For a start, she wasn’t old, probably not much older than herself. There was sadness in her eyes, too, a weariness, as if she was tired of fighting, her spirit almost broken and at the point of giving in to whatever her fate may be. As Sarah made her way to the day room, she popped her head around the office door to see if the sister-in-charge was there. Lynne was sitting close to the computer, grimacing at the screen as if there was something she didn’t understand.

‘Lynne?’ Sarah interrupted.

The nurse looked around and smiled. ‘Yes, what can I do for you?’

* * *

Like everyone else on the floor, Lynne liked Sarah. She was like a breath of fresh air after grumpy Mavis, pleasant, caring and willing to do anything they asked of her.

‘Just wondered about Mrs Roberts in room twelve. What’s she in for?’

‘An assessment for dementia after exhibiting delirium and confusion. She’s not giving you any trouble, is she? She can become a little agitated when she gets confused.’

‘No, anything but, she seems a lovely lady. I feel a bit sorry for her, that’s all. Is there anything else medically wrong?’

Lynne pressed a few buttons on the computer and brought up Alice’s notes. ‘No, it seems that she came to us from hospital after a suspected stroke, but they think the delirium is now dementia and a DOL, Deprivation of Liberty, order is in place. It’s sad and seems to have come on rather suddenly, but she has all the classic symptoms: living in the past, false memories, all the usual signs.’

‘False memories?’ Sarah frowned.

‘Yes, she thinks she was a teacher in her working life, but her daughter tells us she only ever worked in an office.’

‘How sad, and she’s such an intelligent woman, so I suppose everything she says could be wrong? Is the DOL order permanent?’

‘No, the assessments will continue, but if there’s no improvement, the order will probably stand and she could be with us permanently.’

‘She seems so young to have dementia.’

Lynne glanced again at the screen. ‘She’s fifty-five, no age at all, is it? Now, would you be okay to go to the day room and help with the bingo?’

‘Yes, no problem. I just wanted to know a little more about Alice. Thanks for the information, Lynne.’

* * *

Sarah smiled before hurrying from the office to help set up for the afternoon activities. She’d look out a few books for Alice later on or even bring some in from home. She’d probably have some titles that would interest her.