When Nellie More sat in the break room in the nursing home, sipping her coffee, thinking intently. Seeing all those sick and dying people everyday made her feel pity for them. Why prolong their suffering? It didn't seem fair to be in pain. She would watch as these people suffered from Alzheimers-they didn't even recognize people they loved nor how to take care of themselves.
Yet, she had to remember what Daddy said:
1) Sick and old and dying
2) Never use for petty revenge-their motives must be truly evil
3) NEVER remove your gloves.
4) NEVER let anyone touch you.
Nellie had a gift. More like a curse. She remembered all those years wearing gloves mostly. Staying away from people. Being homeschooled. Always moving when there were 'accidents'. She remember the worst memory when she learned about her powers-a tiny kitten she had adopted at age five had died in her arms. How upset she had been. Her father told her with difficulty about her curse. He said that her mother died-though he didn't blame her.
Sipping her coffee, she thought of people who were towards the end of life that were ready to go at a moment's notice. She kept her gloves on all the time. Even over the latex gloves. She wanted to make sure no one ever touched her. She didn't feel comfortable about anyone touching her. Though she desired company and hated loneliness, she felt it was best that she avoided relationships. Friendships. She wanted no one to know about her abilities.
"Break's over," said her supervisor.
Nellie nodded silently after taking one last sip of her coffee. Standing up, she stretched and grabbed a pair of gloves and stuffed them in her scrubs. Nellie was a loner and only talked to her colleagues when it was necessary. She did her reports to the nursing supervisor. Worked with her assigned residents.
It was the best place for her to work. Being with the sick and dying. If they died, one would assume it was from natural causes. Her resident was Ethel Merriman. She was in her nineties. Her diagnosis was failure to thrive. She had stopped eating. Had late stage Alzheimer's and was completely dependent on care. She had aphasia and couldn't talk.
Nellie looked at Mrs. Merriman with a pitiful look as she donned her gloves. She was in pain and suffering.
"You can't take it anymore, can you?" She said sadly.
Mrs. Merriman looked at the brunette aide in silence. She was waiting for her time to come.
"I know it's difficult," Nellie continued. "It's scary to think about. Eventually you accept it. It's all a natural part of life."
Nellie continued to make sure she was clean and dignified. It's how anyone would want to go when the end approached.
"Don't worry. If you want, I'll stay with you until it's over."
Once her work was done, she removed her gloves and tossed them in the trash before washing her hands. She grabbed up a chair and sat next to Mrs. Merriman's bed.
"It'll be over soon," Nellie promised. "You've lived a long and loving life, Mrs. Merriman..." She looked at the pictures next to her bed. "You were a loving wife and mother, raising two wonderful children...who had grandchildren for you...and I'm sure you treasured all those moments. And you're proud of what you did in your life. You will be greeted by your loved ones in the afterlife."
She took the elderly lady's hand and felt the life leave her...