Love My Friends with Benefits

On the way, Aunt Nancy seemed worried.

"I was chatting with your grandmother this morning and found that her memory seems to be jumbled up. The doctors said that she only has a couple of months left..." She trailed off sorrowfully and put the basin into the sink to fill it up. "How I wish that they were lying. Then again, even if she were to be discharged, what would end up happening to her?"

I said cautiously, "I can take care of her. There's nothing to worry about."

"You?" Aunt Nancy shook her head and grimaced. "How are you going to take care of her? You have a job of your own, Queena. If you were to quit to take care of her, how are you going to feed yourself and her?"

I had nothing to say. She was right.

She turned off the tap and concluded, "We can only play this by ear. If push comes to shove, I'll have her move in with me. I'll hire a couple of people to take care of her."

Aunt Nancy was a busy businesswoman and spent half her time away from home. This was why Grandma hadn't lived with her, in the first place.

I couldn't think of any other way, so I nodded in agreement.

Back in the ward, Aunt Nancy and I wiped Grandma down and helped her back into her hospital gown.

Its white and blue stripes made her look waxier than ever.

Aunt Nancy went to pour the dirty water away. When she was back, she said, "Mum, you should get some sleep."

"No," Grandma replied softly. "I want to chat with Queena for a bit longer."

"Alright," I said and sat down by the bed.

...

Grandma held my hand and said emotionally, "Queena, you're doing pretty well on your own now, but I still worry about you."

Aunt Nancy smiled. "What's there to worry about? Queena's a strong, independent woman now."

"How can I rest assured when I've yet to meet the person who can take care of her?"

Grandma looked at me expectantly. "Queena, do you have your eye on anyone?"

For some reason, I thought of Leonard, and my heart sank. "I..."

I wanted to say that I'd yet to think of such things, but I couldn't bring myself to actually say the words.

Nancy shot me a look. I knew that she wanted me to just say something to

fibbed. "He seems to be a nice person... I want to observe him for a while longer before deciding whether

good to know. A person's

said huffily. "Look

talk about them." Suddenly, something occurred to her and she said seriously, "Oh, Queena, you have to swear

understand what she meant.

as her. All that sucking up to the

you shouldn't take about others like that." Grandma stopped Aunt Nancy and looked at me. "Queena, you have

was about to say something when I thought of Leonard

thought of him turning his back on me,

to take my silence

a low voice, "Just promise her to

said to Grandma, then mumbled under my breath, "Not like

I was free. Phoebe, on the other hand, would have all the riches in

my fair share of

a proud person. There was no way I'd want to live like

reassured. "Swear to

eyes, unable to

that something was amiss. She quickly said, "There's no need to swear for something like

silliness and end up paying the price for the rest of

through her sentence,

the

there dazedly, not knowing whether to

red from coughing, and

"Queena!"

her voice, her

had no choice. "I

...

absent-minded in

visiting hours were over, Aunt Nancy walked me out of the ward

"Queena, don't take your grandmother

smiled. "Don't worry

hear that." She nodded, seemingly wanting to

...

this moment,

say anything and watched me