In Three Years (A Mulberry Lane Novel, #3)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

PhilipAs a minister, Philip had met many people who had suffered from Alzheimer’s and dementia—not just those afflicted with it, but also their family and loved ones. Friends, lovers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. But he’d never once imagined it would happen to someone he loved so dearly.

For Philip, the grieving process had begun on the day he’d learned that Louise had been diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer’s. As soon as she told him, an overwhelming sense of grief swept through him. And it hadn’t left him since.

Philip watched Louise as she slept. The yellow sofa looked huge as it swallowed her whole. She looked pale against the bold color. He watched the rise and fall of her chest and could sense the crumbling of her spirit—and with hers...his. Every day that passed took from her. It took her independence, her strength, and her laughter. No longer could she spend time in her garden, tending to her flowers. Her grasp had weakened so much that she could not even hold a pair of pruners without dropping them. With it, Alzheimer’s had taken her ability to walk independently to places she’d used to frequent. Her gait had slowed and her steps had turned into shuffles. Even dressing and choosing her own clothing was no longer a simple task.

Louise shifted in her sleep. It was a small shift; one that others might not have noticed. But he did. Philip noticed everything that was happening. He wanted to make her comfortable; to make things easier for her. But the truth was, he didn’t know how.

He felt powerless and impotent. It was his job as a man to protect the woman he loves. But how could he? How could he possibly defeat this—this disease?

Philip felt a tug in his heart.

It ached.

He ached.

The love of his life was going to leave him, and he felt helpless to stop it from happening.

Philip leaned back on the sofa. He brought a hand to his forehead and pressed the folds between his brows. He breathed out as much of the pain in his heart as he could.

It had taken over forty years for him to finally have Louise in his arms. Sweet Louise. To say that it pained him belittled just how much he was hurting.

He wanted so badly to come up with something—something that would reignite the fire in Louise; the life in her. But nothing seemed to reverse the aggressive decline.

He hunched forward and leaned his elbows on his knees. He closed his eyes. “Lord, God; heavenly Father...” Anxiety made his legs bounce up and down. Philip talked to God—rather, he tried to. It was difficult to talk to someone whom Philip felt had let him down. “My God, why have you forsaken me?” he asked under his breath. “Why her?” Philip squeezed his hands tightly together. His fingertips pressed down over his knuckles; his jaws clenched. Never had he been so angry before. Not at God. Not like this.