As I examined it mesmerized, Ivy turned around toward me. I felt like I needed to say something.
“Nice picture. Who is this?”
“That’s Sam.”
“Sam?”
“He’s a bad person.”
My heart felt like it dropped. Hearing her say that made me feel sorry for Jake. I couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to care for someone who didn’t even know who you were some of the time. You had to be a selfless person to deal with this situation.
I gently swiped the glass that covered the image of my husband’s face. A thick layer of dust coated my fingertip. Returning the frame back to the top of the bureau, I noticed a note and picked it up, recognizing right away that it was written in Jake’s handwriting.
Ivy’s Week Ahead:
Sunday: Relax
Monday: Science Museum Outing
Tuesday: Appointment with Dr. Reynolds
Wednesday: Gina Visit
Thursday: Toni is coming to trim your hair.
Friday: Happy Birthday, baby girl. 33!
Saturday: That nuisance Jake comes back.
Overcome with emotion, I swallowed the lump in my throat. While it was heartwarming to see how meticulously he looked out for her, seeing that he used the term baby girl had sparked unwanted jealousy.
In an eerie coincidence, as if he could sense my inner turmoil, a text from Jake came in.
Are you okay? Please talk to me. You have me worried sick.
I quickly typed a response.
I’m fine. But I need more time alone.
Ivy walked over to the nightstand and took out a box of cigarettes. She lit one, inhaled then startled me when she spoke. “What is your name?”
“Shari.” I coughed. “What’s yours?”
A cloud of smoke floated toward me as she exhaled. “Aria.”
“Aria?”
“What are you doing here, Shari?”
“I’m a volunteer.”
“Did Apollo send you?”
“Apollo?”
“The god of music.”
Jake had told me a little about Ivy’s delusions over the years. It was starting to dawn on me that I’d caught her in the middle of one.
Tilting my head, I asked, “Why would he have sent me?”
“Are you one of his other conquests?”
“No. I can safely say I am not.”
“He’s going to save me. He loves me even though I’m a mortal. Because I’m a talented musician.”
“Well, that’s great.”
“Did you know that operatic arias are the most beautiful pieces of music? That’s where my name comes from. Aria is synonymous with music.”
Jake had mentioned that Ivy used to play the guitar. That was one of the few things I knew about her. An amber-colored guitar leaning against the wall in the corner of the room caught my eye.
“So, you’re a musician. I see the guitar over there. Do you play?”
Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. Ivy quickly put her cigarette out and sat down on the bed. She started to rock back and forth. The change was like a light switch had been turned off. She wrapped both of her hands around her head and started pulling her hair. Then, she burst into tears.
A flash of panic hit me. I felt helpless. The bed creaked as I sat down next to her.
“It’s okay, Aria. Whatever it is, you’ll be okay.”
The reality of how far gone Ivy’s condition was had never really registered with me before. Seeing it for myself gave me a clearer understanding of what Jake had been dealing with all of these years.
There was a knock at the door.
A woman walked in holding a small Dixie cup. “Ivy girl, I have your medicine.” She seemed unphased by Ivy’s wailing, which told me it happened a lot.
The worker didn’t question me. She simply walked over to Ivy, gave her two pills and watched as she drank every last drop of the water.
“Stick out your tongue,” the woman said, apparently needing to make sure Ivy actually swallowed the medicine.
Ivy did as she was told. “Ahh.”
I noticed for the first time that her teeth were quite stained.
The woman promptly left, shutting the door behind her.
Outside the window, snowflakes were falling. We sat in silence for several minutes. Thankfully, she’d calmed down. I couldn’t help staring at her, taking in every last detail as she towered over me on the bed. Subtle wrinkles were starting to form around her mouth, probably from all the years of smoking. It was hard to imagine that Jake had once been married to her, had made love to her over and over. I shuddered. The knowledge that my husband had been inside of her caused my stomach to turn. I really tried not to let my mind go there, but I couldn’t help it.
At one point, she wiped her nose with her sleeve. Her eyes were swollen and red when she slowly turned to me. “I’m Ivy.”
“Hi, Ivy.”
“Why are you here?”
“I’m not sure,” I said honestly.
“Me, neither. I’m not sure why I’m here anymore most days.”
The deeper meaning of her statement made me overcome with sadness for her. I didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry.”
“No one ever stays. People come in here to give me medicine or check to make sure I’m alive then they leave. I’m usually alone. Just as well. I don’t know how to be around people anymore. Well, except Jake.” She laughed almost maniacally. “I haven’t scared him away yet.”