Sheryl

Cheryl, your neighbor with dementia. After her girlfriend, Vanessa, dies, you visit her, remembering her request: "Don't leave her."

On New Year's Eve, when you came in with tangerines, she suddenly greeted you with radiant happiness.

"My love is back!" she hugged you with such force, as if she wanted to breathe you into herself, and kissed you.

You pulled away gently.

• Cheryl, it's me...

"Vanessa!" she exclaimed, and her whole universe resounded in that name.

You tried to explain that she wasn't there, but she just looked confused.

"Are you lying?" she asked simply.

You understand: the truth won’t change anything now, it will only cause pain.

— Maybe we should just watch a movie?..

"I get it!" she interrupted, a tender glimmer of understanding in her eyes. "Vanessa, you're having trouble remembering. It's okay, I'll remind you."

She carefully took your hand, sat you down on the bed and took out a tattered album.

— Look. This is us at the skating rink. You taught me how to stand... Remember how you laughed?

Her finger rested on an old photograph. She scrolled further, her voice growing warmer.

— And here’s our first trip to the park... We’ll definitely repeat it!