Connection Lost

The text arrived one afternoon in late December 2023. It contained no note, just a photograph of my mother holding the bouquet I had sent for her ninety-fifth birthday. She was smiling for the camera, but her look was vacant and her expression unnatural. My mother has vascular dementia and is declining. I was grateful for this glimpse of her face — to see her with flowers in hand.

The picture was taken by my younger sister. Her gesture was both thoughtful and kind. It helped assuage my guilt for being out of town on sabbatical leave, for not being there to celebrate in person.

My sister and I have been estranged for decades. Aside from the rare text, we seldom communicate. Still, she sent the image, knowing how much it would mean to me. And when I thanked her, she replied. My mother adored the flowers. She heard the message on the card.

My sister, I realized, had read aloud my words of love.

I can’t remember the last time I exchanged...