Chapter Seven

Gertrude

	Gertrude opened her front door and strode out confidently into the hallway. She glanced over her shoulder to the mailboxes, waving to Patricia as she headed out to Meadow Side.
	After checking in and finding Odell’s room, the happiness she felt drained from her the second she entered it.
	The weight of what had been done was heavy, the lights were dimmed and the blinds closed tight. Because of the light bulb’s tint the entire room was cast in draining shade of gray. There was no hope here, not a scrap of anything bright. Gertrude herself now wished she had picked a different color scheme to wear as she blended right in with this room of despair.
	There was nothing in the room to mark it as Odell’s, she did not try to make it ‘Home’. She sat upright in the bed looking blankly at the television. All the life drained out of her, the will to live escaped long ago. She did not even acknowledge Gertrude when she sat down in the chair next to the bed.
	Gertrude set her hand on Odell’s arm, “Odell…”
	Odell slowly turned her head to Gertrude, then back at the television.
	“Odell do you know who I am?” Gertrude pushed.
	A small spark of life could be seen in Mrs. Martin’s eyes, but it was fleeting. She turned off the television and looked at Gertrude. “I know who you are. You’re the reason I’m in here.” The color began to return to her brown eyes as anger began to wake her up, “You told the nurses I had sundowners, and my daughter put me here.”
	Gertrude replied flatly, “You were upset about oranges.”
	Odell snapped back, “I had a UTI.”
	“I’m sorry,” Gertrude apologized. “I had no idea.”
	Odell let out a gruff hmmph. “It’s cleared up, they noticed my first night in here. Got me on a prescription.” she motioned to the pill bottles on the nightstand. “They got me on a lot of prescriptions.” Odell complained, “I can’t get out of the bed anymore. I feel like my legs are as heavy as cement, and I don’t have the strength to try to move them anymore.”
	“You’ll have to talk to your doctor.” Gertrude started, but was cut off.
	Odell quipped, “My doctor doesn’t listen to me.” she then shook her head a little, “Why have you come here. No one visits here unless they want something.”
	“The night Jeremy died, what did you see?” Gertrude asked without hesitation.