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While working as a nurse assistant at a nursing home in North Eastern Tennessee I met Estelle, a lady who profoundly changed my life and the care I strive to provide for all I come to know.

Estelle helped me realize that she and the other residents of the nursing home are people human beings with pasts and futures, wants and needs, feelings and fears. Estelle touched my life in a way I'll never forget. She taught me to care for others with time, patience, kindness, respect, and love. I pray when the day comes that I walk in Estelle's shoes I'll have people to care for me as she taught me to care for her and the others living there.

I entered a female resident's room late on night at work and noticed there seemed to be something different something odd about her. Then I saw the puddles in her eyes. I sat down gently on the edge of her bed and put my hand on hers. I spoke softly, not knowing what was wrong with her, not knowing what to say, I asked, "Estelle, is there something wrong?" She slowly lifted her head to meet my eyes. I saw her eyes glisten in the dulling light. Her face was caressed with wrinkles, her skin a warm soft beige with a hint of petal-pink kissing her cheeks. Her lips formed a narrow, cracked line of soft rose. Silver strands of hair hung to her shoulders, making a silvery halo around her face. I looked into her eyes, a passage allowing me to see into her soul.

I saw such emptiness, a tale of cold and lonely nights that take an eternity to drift into days. Her soul told tales of sorrow and sadness intertwined like the stems of an ivy vine. I saw lost love and memories of loves past. All the sadness and sorrow, of her life flow out of her heart through her eyes like a stony bottomed river. Her heart, once kind and gentle, full of zest and spirit for life, now was burdened with the blackest weight: feelings of being a burden and lament and sorrow for times past. For now she held her stories deep inside, for this was all she had left. Her stories of the past were all she had to give.

I leaned into her at the sight of her trembling lips. Not knowing what to expect, I once again asked, "Estelle, is there anything I can do?" I waited, though I didn't expect to hear any response to my question.

The room was oddly quiet. We looked at one another as a moment passed. She sighed heavily and with a soft voice said, "It's been quit a while since I've had any company here. No one seems to bother coming anymore." She slowly looked away, staring at the

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