were families experiencing difficult circumstances.
Many simply couldn’t afford all the necessities they required.
Together, Dorothy and Alex had collected donations and sorted everything downstairs.
She hadn’t withdrawn from public view because someone was restricting her freedom.
She wanted to continue doing something that had defined her entire life.
Caring for others.
She needed to know that growing older hadn’t taken away her ability to contribute.
She still wanted to be generous, useful, and independent rather than merely accept help from everyone around her.
I looked directly at her.
“So all this time, you were trying to help other people?”
She nodded.
“I’ve spent my whole life helping people. I didn’t want old age to be the part where I stopped.”
For a moment, I couldn’t find a response.
I’d spent countless days fearing Dorothy was being manipulated.
Every time I saw Alex entering her home, my suspicions increased.
