Free Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry

time I ever felt like someone didn’t need . She was just there one day. Showed up and sat with me. She was patient. Like it didn’t matter how long it took. She was going to be there.
    I don’t know that I’ve ever had that before.

CHAPTER 9
    TREHA ARRIVED early the next day, riding her bike in the cool September morning air. The day would heat up and be oppressive by the time she rode home, but not for those in cars with air-conditioning, only for people like her who had to walk or ride a bike or the bus.
    She avoided Dr. Crenshaw’s room. As soon as she passed the post office near Desert Gardens, she’d remembered the man’s letter and that she had forgotten it in the pocket of her other scrubs.
    She avoided other residents and cleaned a hallway that had been waxed, arranged rarely touched books in the library, and dusted the dayroom mantel. Late in the morning she tired of the busywork and found Ardeth Williams, the new resident. The woman sat in her wheelchair with the television on and the volume loud enough to obscure low-flying jetliners or passing tornadoes.
    Treha turned down the volume and the woman glanced up. “Tiffany. I didn’t know you worked here.”
    Treha didn’t correct her. “How are you today, Mrs. Ardeth?”
    “I suppose I’m all right, now that you’re here.”
    “Do you need anything?”
    She peered closer, leaning forward. “You’re not Tiffany.”
    “My name is Treha.”
    “Such a nice girl.” The old woman looked around for someone else. “You look like my granddaughter.”
    “Would you like to go for a walk? I think you would like the view of the garden.”
    Treha released the brake even though the woman told her she didn’t want to go outside. She placed Ardeth’s hands on the armrests and pushed her slowly toward the hall and then past an attendant’s station.
    “There goes Mrs. Williams,” a nurse said, smiling. “Hey, Mrs. Williams.”
    Ardeth nodded and waved as if she were the queen of England. Treha looked for Dr. Crenshaw but didn’t see him. They made a lap around the south wing and stopped by the window near the garden. Ardeth delighted like a child, patting her hands as she watched the fountain shoot water and saw the colors of the flowers planted in a mosaic.
    As Treha returned Ardeth, Mrs. Howard’s voice came over the intercom. “Treha, could you come to my office, please?”
    A few minutes later, Treha peeked inside and Mrs. Howard smiled and motioned her to sit. There were empty boxes stacked in a corner of the room and several full boxes of books by the shelf.
    “I’ve been meaning to have a little talk before I leave,” Mrs. Howard said, crossing her arms. “You know there is a new director. Ms. Millstone.”
    “Yes. I have seen her.”
    Mrs. Howard seemed to be searching for the right words. “There may be changes after I leave. I have done things a certainway, but I don’t pretend it’s the only way. Or the best way. I don’t want you to be surprised.”
    “What kind of changes?”
    “The board has given her carte blanche. That means   —”
    “I know what it means.”
    “Yes, of course you do.”
    “It means free reign. She can do what she wants.”
    “Exactly.”
    “You think I should be wary of her?”
    A look of concern clouded the woman’s face. “Treha, I’ve tried to explain to her how valuable each worker is here. Ms. Millstone may have a slightly different vision. I was thinking, if you could try to put your best foot forward, connect with her, that might be a good start.”
    “Does she have a problem with her brain?”
    Mrs. Howard smiled. “Not the kind of problem you are used to. Let’s just say her vision is limited.”
    “Compared to you.”
    Mrs. Howard stood and held out a small piece of paper. “I don’t want to see you get hurt. Keep this. It’s my home number. If anything happens, call me. We can talk it out, work it out.”
    Treha nodded and took the paper.
    “Do you promise you’ll call?”
    Treha