Empathy

"Grandma is the same," Auntie Cat said. "Still immobile mostly but she managed to go to the toilet today."

My mind travelled to when I was bed-ridden with dengue a couple of years back. I was struck by the irony of my situation. I had temporarily become old. Moving was difficult and slow and I needed help with almost everything.

Back to when I was at my grandma's bedside, I kept asking myself, "Is this what it's like for her? What can I do to make it easier?" The answer left me feeling empty. "Not much," I thought.

Don't talk the talk until you walk the walk, so the saying goes.

Now I know what it means. When I was in hospital, I had temporary become old. My grandma is permanently old.