After talking with April, Kim, and Sadie, I decided to give him something unique and that he couldn’t get in stores. From my bookshelf, I pulled down the very first screenplay that I had written incollege.
“Perfect,” Ideclared.
I sat down at my kitchen table and began to pen a special note to him. Russell had been the best thing that had ever happened to me. I thought back to the last time I wrote a heartfelt letter to someone. She had burned me. Russell was different; he knewme.
I put a lot of thought into exactly what I wanted to say in the letter to him. It’s getting easier for me to talk to him, but it’s still easier for me to type things to him. But this was in my own handwriting, guided by myheart.
Before I folded it and slipped it into the Christmas card I got for him, I re-read the note for the one-hundredth plustime.
Russell,
This is my very first screenplay that I wrote in college. I wanted you to have it because you are the first person who has seen me for me. I’m still figuring a lot of it out. Thank you for guiding me and for being patient withme.
I’ve been trying to think of what I could get you for Christmas. You’re hard to buy for, but I came up with something that you can’t get in stores; me. You know me better than anyone and have cared more than anyone. I want to give you my promise that I’ll approach everything with an open mind and heart. I know that you will know what to do withit.
WillinglyYours,
Ryan
I was happy with it. I put the letter in the card and slipped the card inside the cover of the screenplay. Aside from the screenplay with my card, I needed to watch more videos and talk to April and Kim about how to “service”Russell.
Before I went to Russell’s, I decided to call my mom. I dialed her number direct and paced around the room waiting for her to answer. It just rang and rang. I knew she went with some of the other ladies to dinner at five each day but was usually back in her room by six, and it was approaching sevennow.
I decided to jump in the shower and get ready for Russell’s party. After I was freshly showered and all ready for tonight, I tried to reach my mom again. When there wasn’t an answer, I sent Chad a text, and then I called the front desk at the assisted livingplace.
“Hi, I’m trying to reach Elizabeth Hudson,” I said when someone at the front deskanswered.
“Have you tried herroom?”
“Yes, but I haven’t been able to reach her,” I explained and hoped they’d understand myconcern.
“One moment and I’ll put you through. If she doesn’t answer this time, call me back and I’ll send a nurse tocheck.”
“Okay.”
I sat down on the edge of my couch andwaited.
“Hello,” my mom’s voice came on theline.
Instantly, I felt the ache in my stomach that I get whenever I hear hervoice.
“Hi! Mom, I was getting worried,” I said and started to pace again. “I tried to call you a fewtimes—”
“Chad?”
Chad.I sat back down on the arm of the couchagain.
“No, it’s Ryan, not Chad.” I waited for some sign of recognition, but when it didn’t come, I continued on. “I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas, Mom. I’m sorry that I can’t be there today or tomorrow. It’s just really busy at work. You know, with all the people who come to Las Vegas for the holidays…for betterweather.”
She hadn’t said anything other than Chad’sname.
“Hello?” she finallysaid.
“Mom?”
“Chad? Sweetheart, when are you coming? I thought you’d be here. You misseddinner.”
I stared at theceiling.
