Emma Visited Her Every Other Day, Leaving Food and Water by the Bed Before Slipping Away

**Diary Entry 12th May**

Ive a neighbour named Emily Whitmore. Her mother, Margaret, had lived alone for years. Once, she was a brilliant cookwhipping up pies and roasts for the whole family, always sharing with the neighbours.

Emily, though, was ashamed of her. Margaret was a simple country woman whod worked the land all her life. After her husband passed, she was left alone. Emily barely visited. And Margaret she began forgetting thingsleaving the gas on, rambling nonsense.

One day, Emily dropped in and the house reeked of burnt food. The oven had been left on.

What on earth are you doing? Cant even heat a meal without nearly burning the place down? Emily shouted.
Love, Im sorry! Its the first time its happened! Margaret pleaded.

Her health worsened. Walking became a struggle. One evening, she rang Emily, voice shaky:
Em, I dont feel rightmy blood pressures soaring. Can you come?
Im not a doctor! Call an ambulance! Emily snapped, hanging up.

After that, Margaret stopped leaving the house entirely. Emily grudgingly visited weekly, buying the cheapest groceries, half-heartedly tidying, always fuming:
How do you live like this? One person, and the place is a pigsty! Have you no shame?

Shed slam the door on her way out. Eventually, Margaret couldnt even get out of bed. Emily came every other day, leaving food and water by the bedside without a word. Then, one visitsilence. Margaret was gone.

After the funeral, Emily started visiting the grave often, weeping:
Oh, how I miss my darling mum! She was the most precious, loving soul!

Funny, that. She forgets how she neglected her, refused to care, left her to rot. Now she mourns? Too late for regrets.

**Lesson:** Kindness costs nothing, but neglect costs everythingsometimes, the debt comes due too late.