‘Who are you?’The woman placed her hand on the glass and stared. There was no answer, just the sound of everyday things.

The tick of the clock, the low hum of the TV from the room next door, the muffled conversations of people in the hallway.

‘Who are you?’ This time she whispered the words, because she knew she was supposed to know the answer. Her reflection stared back at her.

But it wasn’t her. Not the way she remembered herself. Who was this elderly lady with hair so white you wouldn’t notice snow on her head

Deep lines crisscrossed the image, and the woman’s eyes were watery and dull. The hand touching the mirror seemed to belong to someone else. The skin was paper thin; sun spotted. The gold rings on the left hand were loose.

Confused, the woman shook her head to clear her thoughts. The door opened silently and a young woman in uniform came in holding a dinner tray.

‘Evening, Clara,’ she said, placing the tray on the side table. ‘How are you tonight?’She turned at the sound of the voice. Clara. Yes, that’s who she was. Clara, Clara. She silently chanted her name a few times so it would stay in her memory. Clara . . . Worth. Clara Worth. She smiled gratefully at the woman who’d helped her solve the puzzle. Then she looked at the name badge on the woman’s breast. Casey. What a ridiculous name! It made her sound like she was going on holiday.

Another woman entered the room. This one was holding a file.‘Now, Mrs Worth, I’ve got your medication, which you must take with food.’ She put a little white plastic cup on the table next to the food and stood there looking at her. Clara bristled at her bossiness. This one’s name was Helen. A hard name to go with her hard face. She regarded both women…

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