I was rewatching the earlier episodes of season 2 of Grey's, one episode which Ellis was admitted into the hospital, and this popped into my head.

In The Future

Hello, my name is Caryn Sheperd. My parents are Derek and Meredith Sheperd, the two world renowned neurosurgeons from Seattle Grace Hospital. My name is a combination of my aunt Lexie, whose middle name is Caroline and my paternal grandma whose name is Carolyn.

Mom told me that the day I was born, which turned out to be the one year anniversary of a tragic day in the hospital, all the hospital staff came to see me. And that I had single-handedly lifted away the gloomy nature of the day. My parents never told me much about that tragic and fateful day, except that there was a shooting that day, a few died and many were injured, and it was a day they would never forget, no matter how much they wanted to. Mom told me on several occasions how she lost my elder sister that day, which saddens me, because I've always wanted a big sister. But she would then comfort me by saying that had it not happened that way, I wouldn't even exist, so this is like my sister's gift for me.

I grew up in the hospital. Since my parents wanted to spend as much time with me and my younger brother Christopher, they made it a point not to hire a nanny, and to bring us to the hospital instead most of the time. Which is just as well… My earliest childhood memories include me and my brother in the hospital nursery, mingling around with the other kids there, whose parents were also hospital staff.

The hospital is like my sanctuary, I remember sitting in the OR gallery coloring or reading, while watching Dad cut open someone's brain. I remember sitting in the hospital cafeteria grinning away as my mom's friends gushed at me. I remember running down the corridors chasing after my cousins Dylan and Amanda whose parents uncle Mark and aunt Lexie are also renowned surgeons in this hospital. Well, it was a good childhood, as my parents showed me and my brother as much love as they can ever give.

The hospital is my life. So much so that when I grew older and graduated from high school, I decided to pursue a pre-medical and subsequently a medical degree.

Not only did I want to make my parents proud ( I know they're already so proud of me), I cannot imagine myself doing anything else other than following in their footsteps and becoming a surgeon.

Which is why I'm currently working as an intern in this Seattle Grace Hospital itself, which has always been like my second home.

My parents have retired from being surgeons several years ago. According to Dad, they wanted to enjoy the remaining of their lives while it lasts. But I know that there's something more to that… a secret that our family has been keeping for quite some time now.

Year 2037

I have this sinking feeling that today is going to be one of those days….those long days where everything just seems to go wrong, and you just want the day to end so that you can go back home and rest. So far, three of my patients have already died in the OR, and they just had to have me announce the time of death. I was requested to pull the plug on another patient, but firmly refused to do so, after the story I've heard from aunt Lexie herself how she would never forgive herself for pulling the plug on that patient, which lead to the horrible shooting years ago. I had earned glares from the specialists, but I just don't care.

Right now, I'm standing at the nurses station charting. One would think that with the latest technology and so many new equipments being invented, one would think of inventing a digital chart for the patients. But no. Oops. I'm rambling again, one of the many traits I've inherited from my mom.

I feel a tap on my shoulder. Irritated to have been disturbed from my work, I turn around to see cousin Dylan and Abby Hunt, my best friend, standing and looking at me with their eyes full of concern. They are also interns in this hospital.

'What?' I am now beginning to feel nervous. Everytime they look at me like that, I know something is wrong.

' Your mom is in the hospital.' Dylan says matter-of-factly.

I bury my face in my hands. This day cannot possibly get any worse than this.

' She was trying to fight away the nurses when they tried to insert the IV line into her. The nurses are calling for you' Abby adds.

As much as I want to run far away, my conscience tells me that she is my mother and I have to deal with her if others can't.

When I enter mom's room, she is now chiding a nurse who was still unsuccessfully trying to set an IV line on her.

' What are you doing, trying to poke me? I am a doctor here, not a patient! Go practice on someone else. And pass me the patient's chart please..'

I clear my throat and Dad who is standing beside her looks up at me and smiles.

' Princess, I don't think your Mom is in the best of moods today'.

Omg, I am freaking 26 years old and he still calls me his Princess.

But today I decide to ignore that and walk over to mom's beside.

' Mom' I call out softly. She stops scolding the nurse and stares at me.

Suddenly she looks frightened.

'Derek' she says wearily… 'How can I not remember having a twin?'

Have I forgotten to mention how I look so much like my mother when she was younger?

Dad tries to stifle a giggle, but I do not find it funny at all.

' Mom, I'm not your twin. I'm your daughter Caryn.'

She stares at me and studies me from top to toe.

'Derek!' she calls out again, this time in a panicked voice.

' Yes dear, I'm here'

' Why is this young lady here saying that she is my daughter? I don't recall having a daughter! I never did have any children before Derek, you've to trust me!'

This time, Dad keeps silent.

' Derek, I would never lie to you… if I had a daughter I would've told you… I'm not like you, you lied to me. You didn't even tell me you had this beautiful talented wife who is hard to hate the first time you met me! '

Dad put his hands on her shoulders.

'Mer, that was almost 30 years ago…'

She stares at him in disbelief. And then shakes her head.

'No..no…you're lying to me. You lied to me about Addison. Everyone is lying to me!'

She is now sobbing wholeheartedly in his arms.

Dad looks at me apologetically, and I know that means that there is nothing I can do for her at the moment, so I leave the room with a heavy heart.

Abby now stands beside me in the nurses counter, as I chart to distract myself from what happened in the room.

Finally she breaks the silence. 'Is her Alzheimer's getting worse?'

I sigh and put down my pen. 'Yes, it is. Just yesterday she could still recognize me, although she calls me her little girl. Today, she cannot even recognize me anymore, and she was freaking out trying to explain to Dad how she would never have an illegitimate daughter. It's like she has travelled back in time!' I ramble.

Abby sighs. 'I'm so sorry.. ermm….do you want a hug?' she asks awkwardly.

I smile as she hugs me stiffly. She is so like her mom, hardcore and not really good at showing emotions.

Later in the day, when I've finished checking on my patients, I decide to visit Mom again. This time, she's sleeping peacefully on her bed, to my relief. Dad is still by her bedside and now my brother is also there beside her.

'How's she now?' I ask softly not wanting to wake her. ' Sedated, she was given some benzodiazepenes. They almost wanted to give her haloperidol, but I wouldn't allow that'. Dad answered.

I take my seat beside her and hold her right hand.

As I look down at her peacefully sleeping face, I can't help but recall the abundant good times we've had with each other, before she was diagnosed with Alzheimers' a one year ago.I had known that my maternal grandmother also had this disease, and that it is familial, but I just didn't expect it to strike her this soon, when they're still so many beautiful memories I want to share with her.

I recall the many mother-daughter bonding sessions I had with her , even as an adult. We would make it a point to have this girly time at least once a week where we would go to the malls and shop as much as we wanted. Going for facial and yoga sessions with her. Helping her to cook in the kitchen, which can be quite an ordeal at times as she's not the best cook. Snuggled in the couch together, watching old tapes of my grandma Ellis performing amazing surgeries. Her smiling proudly at me during my ballet performances, high school graduation and medical school graduation.

I now realize that these are the memories that matter and that I would carry with me forever. At least she has been a great mother to me.

I squeeze her hand and bend down to kiss her forehead.

'I love you, mom.'

A beautiful smile carves on her lips, the smile which I've seen a million times and love. (The same smile which always blows away my Dad).

Dad follows suit and kisses her forehead as well.

'Mer' he says, holding her hands..remember our wedding vows? Which we first wrote down on post-its? We promised each other to never run away even if we get old and senile. And I promised you to stay by your side even when you have Alzheimer's. Well, this is me standing by your side... And just so you know, you're nothing like your mom.'

My parents are romantic like that. Normally, I would get a bit uncomfortable with their PDA, but I'm actually grateful for the strong bond they're shared throughout the years.

Chris and I share a knowing smile.' Yes, you're the best mom ever' Chris chimes in, and I nod in agreement.

And so we sit in silence, Dad, Mom, Chris and I, just appreciating simple family time together.

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