Sally’s phone was resting across the dimly lit living room, but she was lying on the floor. She was face down on her stomach.
Crap! I should have taped down the edge of the carpet last week, she thought. The trip over the carpet corner began the chain reaction that led to her current body position. But the problems had started years before, when she ignored her doctor’s advice to start an exercise regimen at Movement for Seniors Physical Therapy. A young, perky clinic employee explained the importance of strength training. Her excitable high voice annoyed Sally.
I’m not that old. I can open pickle jars. I can walk to pick up my mail. I just move slower, that’s all. She never set foot in that clinic again.
Then she had ignored Carly’s pleas to get an alert necklace after her daughter witnessed Sally tumble to the ground while gardening.
I would have been fine without her, Sally reasoned. But afterward, she had watched a video on how to get up from the floor without assistance.
Now, she was face down on a carpet that smelled funny. I’ll schedule a carpet cleaning when I get to my phone.
She placed her palm on the ground and pushed, shaking with the exertion. Her body rolled to the side and she gasped for breath. She gazed under the couch, mortified at the collection of dust bunnies and cobwebs and errant crumbs.
This is going to be harder than I thought. She put her hand firmly on the ground and heaved again. For a few seconds, she didn’t move. She tightened her stomach muscles, sweat collected on her face, and she sluggishly sat up, her legs bent to her side.
Now I need to get on my hands and knees. But her hips refused to lift over her feet. She squeezed and pressed, but she only shook with the effort. She halted her strained effort, her chest heaving to gulp air into her lungs.
Vulnerable, dependent, sad, weak, stuck, a burden. The reality of her situation stung her awareness. The isolation wrapped her in chills. She was scared.
Sally twisted her neck to glance at the wall clock. 10 AM, and this was Wednesday. I don’t have lunch with Carly until Saturday. I won’t be missed until the bridge game tomorrow evening. Maybe Carly will call today. She sat and hoped.
An hour passed, and she became thirsty. Nothing was in reach. Surely Carly would call this evening. When she didn’t answer, Carly might call again later. And when she still didn’t answer, Carly would get worried and drive over. When that finally happened, Sally could drink gallons of water.
Another hour passed. Her legs cramped, so she lay back on her side and released the tension. Her lips and mouth were dry. She planned to have leftover chicken parmesan. It was her favorite dish, with tender white meat, breaded for a slight crunch, and spicy tomato sauce, topped with stretchy mozzarella cheese. It was waiting in the refrigerator. She’d have it tonight. Maybe late tonight.
Two more hours passed. She panicked and tried to move again, but her body stiffened. It would not cooperate. She felt dizzy and tired. Her thoughts were fuzzy. She closed her eyes.
She levitated over her motionless form on the floor. Danny, her late husband, sat on the shag carpet beside her. He was stroking her hair.
“Sweetheart, I mowed the lawn today,” he said in a buttery deep voice, just like she remembered. She missed him.
“Are you making meatloaf? You know that’s my favorite,” he said. She grunted.
“I told you to hire a cleaning service for this house, but you are so stubborn, Sally. It drove me crazy.” He chuckled.
I know, she thought.
Her daughter cried out, and she opened her eyes.
“Mom? Mom, it’s Carly! Can you hear me?” Her daughter sounded panicked. Sally’s hand rested in Carly’s worried grip. Low, murmuring, unfamiliar voices accompanied the multiple pairs of strange shoes as they traipsed around her filthy shag carpet. She should really get it cleaned.
Sally looked into her daughter’s eyes and nodded. “I need to get the carpet cleaned.”
Carly began to cry and laugh, her shoulders shaking with the sobs. “ You’re going to be okay. We’re going to get you to the emergency room.”
Sally’s body was lifted by the paramedics and placed on the wheeled stretcher. They ferried her to the ambulance waiting in the driveway.