The nice old man walked from one room to the next then back again

Carrying a book he would sit for a minute then get up and walk again

He had years in the care home wandering from room to room

On a never ending search for contentment that could never be found

I told him of a book I had read, and gave it to him

He thanked me kindly and said he would give it a try

He carried it from room to room in favour of his previous one

Weeks later I asked, how is the book? He sadly replied I can no longer read as I cannot remember the previous page

As the weeks went by he stopped carrying books from room to room

He would tell me of his life and his departed wife, long term memory intact

A gentle dignified man brought low by short term memory failure

Every day when I asked him how he was he would reply I don’t know, I don’t know why I’m still here I don’t want to be here anymore

One day he got his wish I went in and he wasn’t there

Hopefully he found the peace and contentment he searched for, for so long