My father wrote my phone number on the inside of his belt

Dear Delyara, Dad has dementia and has begun wandering. We put identification cards in his wallet and a tag in his coat, but he takes both off when annoyed. Today, while helping him change clothes, I noticed black marker on the inside of his leather belt. My phone number. He had written it himself months ago, apparently while his handwriting was still steadier. Beneath it: CALL SARAH IF LOST. SHE KNOWS. I had not known. Dad has spent his whole life being the person who knows. Roads, money, tools, family history, who to call when the washing machine makes a strange sound. The idea that he privately prepared for a future where I would be the person who knows makes my chest ache. I asked when he wrote it. He stared at the belt and said he had no idea. Then he laughed and said, “Smart bloke.” I said yes. Very. Tonight, I copied the number again because part of it has rubbed away. My father once taught me my home address in case I got lost. Now I am writing my own number inside his clothes for the same reason.