Episode 1:
I looked at my watch and realized it was almost time. I knew I was expected to show up in the same place every day that I had previously agreed to. If not, they would hold me accountable. I’m sure they would come looking for me. I don’t like it when anyone comes to my living quarters. I like my private room just as it is. In my eyes, it’s enough that I am living in a retirement home sharing parts and pieces of herself with others. I really didn’t mind the stories so much. What I do mind is if there was a day I didn’t feel like telling a story; I still did it out of obligation. That was the only thing I disliked the most, the obligation that came with continuing to do something even when you want a break. The minute my audience grew to what it is now, I knew some of my freedom would be gone.
Let me introduce myself, my name is Olivia, and I moved into Moore’s Retirement Community six months ago. At the age of 62 I was able to retire early due to investments and income. Moore’s Retirement Community is only a temporary stop for me. I have other plans that I’ve been putting in place, and although this retirement community is beautiful and has been nothing but good to me, one year is all I am giving it. I’ve been living here for six months, which means I have six months left to get my thoughts together while doing more research and planning. I have an idea of what I want to do. I only need to make sure it’s something I can do while being comfortable and content.
Like I was saying, I’ve been at Moore’s Retirement Community for six months. When I first moved in, I was leery of everyone and everything. Everyone seemed so happy to live in the retirement community while waiting to die. I didn’t understand why that was okay and accepted by them. I can’t accept that, which is why I gave myself a deadline. It took a couple of months, but I relaxed and began to trust some of the residents. The ones that I trusted began asking me questions. They were not weird questions or anything like that. They were normal getting to know you questions. I noticed that the more I talked, the more interested they became. Then something weird happened about three months ago. I was talking to one resident that I talked to often, and I was so into the story I was telling her that I didn’t realize I had gained an audience. When I looked up and saw them all sitting around, I stopped talking. They, a total of four residents, just stared at me. I stared back wondering what they wanted from me. Then one of them spoke, and they asked why I stopped telling the story. I didn’t hesitate to say that I thought I was talking to one person and when I look up, I have four people sitting in chairs in front of me as if I’m teaching something. “We love your stories!” The four of them said in unison. That’s what started this whole thing.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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M.C. Addington 