My grandpa suffered from alzheimers in his later years. It never really affected me since it seemed lke the funny kind of Alzheimer’s. A lot of "oh grandpa moments!" like when he can’t remember how to tie his shoes or how to use the microwave.

After a while though it started getting worse. He couldn’t recognize my voice over the phone for example. But there was one moment that made me realize how far gone my grandfather was.

He picked up a framed picture of him and my grandmother who had passed away four years prior. He stared at it blankly and I lightheartedly asked "You like that picture, eh, grandpa?"

He paused before replying "Who are these people?

I froze my grandfather couldn’t remember what his wife of fifty-four years looked like. He couldn’t remember what HE looked like.

I said "Grandpa, that’s you and grandma. Don’t you remember?

Again, he paused and then he began to cry and said choking on his tears "No, no I don’t remember! I can’t remember! Why can’t l remember?"

"It’s the Alzheimer’s, Grandpa. You’re losing your memories a-"

"Alzheimer’s I don’t care, I lived a life, I worked hard, I existed! I should know it, shouldn’t I?"

There was a long pause before he muttered "I’m scared."

"Of What?"

"I don’t want to die."

We cried for hours.