- 4.
“The preliminary tests show signs of early-
onset Alzheimer’s, and it’s progressing
rapidly.”
“What? He’s only 27!”
I stared at the birds outside the window, not
really hearing Jess and the doctor talking.
<
“He’s also severely depressed. It seems to be
related to some kind of trauma. Did
something happen?”
I was still holding my arm, but I was really
thinking about how my birthday was coming
up in a month and wondering what Jess
would get me.
Sarah never gave me gifts on my birthday.
She always gave them to me on the
anniversary of the day we met!
I smiled at Jess and poked her arm.
“What are you getting me for my birthday?”
I forgot that the day I met Sarah was actually
L
I forgot that my birthday had already passed.
Jess was talking to the doctor, but she
stopped to look at me.
She smiled weakly, trying not to show how
upset she was.
“Anything you want, Mikey. Anything at all.”
“Right now, we’re guessing this is a sudden
onset. If we get him in therapy and avoid the
triggers, it might improve. But we can’t
promise anything.”
“He needs to stay away from whatever
caused this.”
Jess listened to the doctor and took me
<
home. She hid everything that had to do with
the hospital or with Sarah.
She stood there in front of me, like a tree.
But I couldn’t see what was going on. I
couldn’t see the future.
