Where I Need to Be

North Berwick, Maine I arrived at the Edgewood Centre, just over the state line in New Hampshire, at 9 A.M. sharp. It was my first day at the senior care facility as a licensed nursing assistant (or LNA) trainee. I had no idea what to expect. “Good morning, Allie,” the human resources director said. “You’ll be reporting to the south wing.” I tried to act unfazed, but I think I gasped.

The south wing. That was the dementia ward.

I had seen the residents who had Alzheimer’s. Their vacant expressions. Their stiffness. I’d heard they could be unpredictable, aggressive—mean even. I didn’t think I could connect with any of them. And if I couldn’t connect with them, how could I take good care of them?

I forced a smile. “Great,” I said to the HR director.

But I was scared to death. As I walked down the hall to the south wing, all I could think was, I miss my old life.