To me, the neighbour in Heilbronn look like a stern man. He was not necessarily unfriendly, he was just very economical with his word and smile.
“My wife is suffering from dementia, it is beyond my capability to take care of her. It’s time to send her to retirement home with special care.” He told his neighbour Mrs. B heartbrokenly.
After that, almost everyday, he complained he was unwell and need doctor. His children were often there or rang Mrs. B to see if their father was doing ok.
Later, he announced to us that he did not want to make his children worry about him, he would move to the retirement home where his wife settle.
One day, Mrs. B visited him in the retirement home. She came back and reported to me:
“The neighbour’s room in the retirement home is so small, with a small window, and the view is a car park.”
“Oh, what a contrast!” I made a quick glace at his grand house and said.
“Anyway, he seems very contented there. He said the highlight everyday is the afternoon tea time with his wife.” Mrs. B said.
“How’s his wife doing? Can she recognize him?” I asked.
“Sadly, no. She even lost the ability to speak.” Mrs. B replied.
“Oh dear.”
“But I saw he’s smiling again. He is so happy living there and he decided to sell his house. Don’t you need furniture for your new apartment? May be he would give some to you.”
On one Saturday in year 2019, I visited him in his house to look at the furniture I might need. I took the essential furniture like table, chairs, wardrobe, shelves. He asked me: “What about the clock? Don’t you like it?”
“Yeah, it’s stylish.”
“The Persian carpet?” he continue.
“Of course, it’s classy.”
“The clay made Bambi?”
“I love it.”
Before I left his grand house, I walk around his backyard. I can see the panorama view of Heilbronn over the hilly vineyard. He was giving up all this to live in a small room with car park view just to be near to his wife. The ordinary man with extraordinary decision.
In the year 2020, his wife left in Spring, he followed her in Summer, funeral in Autumn, and they are buried side by side.
“Father could not live without mother, he was depressed since mother left us. His health was not declining, just on one day, he closed his eyes and gone.” His children said.
The new owner of the house demolished the old building, the new modern house is on its way. By the light of the old lamp, on the old table that I inherited from him, I am typing the story about the neighbour.
Epilogue
In a retirement home in Berlin, the 86 years old Hans was waiting for his wife Mercedes, the woman that he has fallen in love with for 65 years. Mercedes becomes demented and needs special care. This was how the scene looked like.
He quietly and secretly enjoys how the automatic glass door opened and the five patients on wheelchairs are pushed by. “The second one, that’s her,” he whispers in delight, and indeed, he resembles a schoolboy who in the schoolyard secretly pointing out which girl he has fallen in love with.
Original Text (in German)Also genießt er still und heimlich, wie sich die automatische Glastür öffnet und die fünf Patienten vorbeigeschoben werden.
“Die Zweite, das ist sie”, flüstert er entzückt, und tatsächlich gleicht er jetzt einem Pennäler, der auf dem Schulhof verstohlen zeigt, in welches Mädchen er sich verliebt hat.
Matthias Stolz
ZEITMAGAZIN NR. 28/20201. JULI 2020
Darling, I am growing old,
Silver threads among the gold,
Shine upon my brow today,
Life is fading fast away.
But, my darling, you will be,
Always young and fair to me,
Yes, my darling, you will be
Always young and fair to me.
Silver Threads Among the Gold
Eben Eugene Rexford