Ava grabbed the apple muffin from the store-bought container off the kitchen table and walked through the swinging door to the living room.  Open books and papers scattered the oak coffee table. Grandpa's glasses dangled off the arm of the couch.  He slept, mouth open and snored. Another long night. Pictures on the television blurred by in silence. Ava looked at the books, academic medical texts and journals with the August 13, 1999 Journal of Biological Chemistry laid face up. It's article, "Membrane Topology of Alzheimer' Disease," opened.  Several lines highlighted on the front page.  

A lump in Ava's throat formed and a weight in her chest overcame her.  She looked at Grandpa Murphy, exhausted after a day in the garage and a night of research. Ava placed the muffin on the table in front of him, moved his glasses to the coffee table and stepped to the other side of the leather couch. She placed a blue and white diamond patterned afghan over him and watched as he jostled his body and pulled the afghan over his shoulders before she walked out the front door.   

Early morning was beautiful outside, Ava jumped on her blue 10 speed bike.  The leaves were still green on the Aspen trees and she breathed in the fresh air as she pedaled down the street. She stopped short in front of a large manor. A sign in front read "Haven House since 1902."

1902? 116 years in business. I wonder how many people this place actually helped since then.

"Oh, hey Ava,  Gemma's tray is still in the kitchen, and the coffee is brewed fresh." The man behind the desk said, as he ate a donut.

"Thanks, I'll go wash my hands first. " Ava said, lifted her hands up as if she was about to do surgery. 

The bathroom was an off white color, which matched the hallways of the building. The linoleum a grey and white marbled pattern.  I'm surprised anyone remembers this place, it certainly doesn't try to be memorable. Ava turned on the silver facet at the sink and ran the water.  She primped her dark long brown hair in the mirror, noticed the tiny frayed edges when she looked closer.  Her face was clean, with a spot of clear lip gloss over her round lips, dark brown and gold shades of eye color on the lids. She pulled out her mascara and reapplied. That's better. She took the soap and scrubbed her hands hard under the hot water. The words to the Happy Birthday Song went through her head twice as she washed. She grabbed a few paper towels, wiped her hands and turned off the water with the towel. She backed through the bathroom door, holding her hands up, paper towel still in hand.  

In the kitchen, she placed on gloves and grabbed the tray labelled 106 which rested in the tall metal tray caddy.  She took a mug with a butterfly on it, filled it with coffee and placed it on the tray.  Careful not to spill; she walked the tray to room 106 and knocked.  "Grandma, it's Ava."  she said and opened the door. 

A single bed with it's head pushed up again the right wall, blankets messy in the middle and a maroon reclining chair to the left.  The room was dark, the shades still closed with peaks of sun coming through.  

"Grandma?"  Ava said again, as she placed the tray down on the rolling table near the chair.  She looked around, the bathroom door was closed but the light was coming from below. The rest of the room opened up to a small kitchenette opposite the bed and a table in the middle where a half completed puzzle of Colorado wildflowers laid. 

The bathroom door opened and Gemma walked out, her night down floated along the floor as she walked. 

"Grandma." 

Gemma jumped and turned around, “Madeline”, why did you scare me?" her hand placed on her chest.  Her white hair was in grey curlers and she had a brown and pink head scarf tied around at the nap of her neck. 

"It's Ava, Grandma, your granddaughter."  Ava sat at the table and picked up a piece of the puzzle. 

"I know that,"  Gemma said, and moved behind Ava and looked over her shoulder.  She pointed to a straight edge piece. "I keep believing I know where that goes, but when I pick it up, it alludes me."  

Ava picked it up. "I can help."  and fit it into the only edge piece missing on the border.  Ava got up from the table, and went to the chest of drawers on the wall with the bed.  "Do you know what you are wearing today?"  Ava opened the drawers and removed a few different options of clothes: brown slacks with a cream blouse, tan slacks with a dark blue blouse. 

"What about shorts, don't I have some shorts in there?" 

Ava looked through the clothes. "You don't have any in here, you've never liked wearing them because of your chicken legs." 

"I don't have chicken legs, Ava."  Gemma pulled up her nightgown and looked down. "Oh, well, I guess I do." she lowered her nightgown. 

"Come, sit and have breakfast.  Here are a few choices for you to wear today.   Do you want to wear some earrings and a necklace?" Ava asked. 

"Oh yes, that bird necklace that Evelyn gave me when you were born and those small blue flower earrings, those will go well with that tan and blue outfit." 

"I can't stay long today, I'm meeting Zuri down on Mainstreet this morning.  Spice World is doing a pre Labor Day sale on their clearance items." Ava said and retrieved the requested jewelry from the box on top of the chest of drawers. 

"Zuri?" Gemma moved her eyes to the right and looked up, "She's that nice black girl, right?" 

Ava rolled her eyes, "Grandma..." 

"She is really dark black though, right? Lovely girl. Does she still study those herbs and flowers like she used to? She'd like that puzzle." Gemma pointed back to the table as she sat down in the recliner and brought the rolling table with her breakfast tray near her. 

"Yes, she still studies those herbs. That's why we can't be late to this sale today. It's will help her fill her apothecary cupboard."

"I don't want to keep you away from your friends Madeline, I know how much more important they are than me."  Grandma looked at Ava and took a sip of her coffee. 

"I'm Ava, grandma."

"That's what I said." Gemma replied. 

"I'll be here tomorrow morning and then we can do the crossword puzzle together, okay? And grandpa will probably stop by today like usual." Ava gathered her purse and pecked Gemma on the cheek. "I love you. Don't cause any trouble today."  She looked at her watch, 7:50 am, right on time. Ava walked toward the door. 

"No Madeline, don't do it, that's the wrong one."  Gemma moved her tray out of the way and rushed toward Ava and took her hands. "Where is it? Where is it?" Gemma's voice louder and louder.  Gemma dropped to her knees and began searching the floor, "You can't take it with you, it's the wrong one." 

"Grandma, " Ava bent over and looked on the ground, "what are you talking -"  

The room door opened revealing a male orderly.. "Is everything okay, do I need to get the nurse?" 

Gemma shot up, stood tall. "They are all in on it, they know where my daughter is; gone away, disappeared." Gemma threw up her arms. 

"Grandma, it's okay, remember they tried to find her, they helped when she left us." Ava tried to comfort Gemma and guided her back to the chair.  

 "Oh, coffee!" She picked up the butterfly mug. "I like butterflies." Gemma looked up at Ava and combed Ava's long hair with her hand. "So pretty, little bird." 

Ava stared at Gemma, speechless.  "Um...I'll see you tomorrow."  

The orderly stood at the door, his arms crossed.  Ava walked passed him and motioned him to follow.  He looked at Gemma, who examined the butterfly mug. 

"She will be fine. She is still devastated about my mom's disappearance. It haunts her."

The orderly nodded his head, "She was there, right? The last one to see her? I can't imagine how I'd feel."  

Ava's stomach turned, knots formed in her throat unable to speak.  She nodded and walked toward the front of the building to retrieve her bike.  She was halfway there when the tears came. How many more times is this going to happen? It's been 10 years, will it ever get better?