Mr. and Mrs. Rolman each took calls on their landline. His came in the morning, and hers in the early afternoon. Both calls were from their family doctor.

The doctor spoke to each of test results, repeating words like: “Unfortunately,” “Alzheimer’s,” “Beginning stages,” “Early-onset,” “Dementia,” “Severe…”

Mrs. Rolman thanked the doctor and hung up the phone. It was time to put together her boy’s afterschool snack. She laid a circle of cookies on a plate and poured some milk in a paper cup, happy.