Every Evening, My Husband Tipped Two Drops From a Small Dark Glass Bottle Into My Tea

“What does that buildup do to a healthy body?” I asked.

“It dulls your thinking without changing your blood pressure or liver values,” Doctor Aris said.

“It causes severe short-term memory loss, confusion, slurred speech, and loss of balance.”

“How long would those symptoms last if the daily doses stopped?” I asked.

“A few days,” Doctor Aris said.

“But while the compound is in your bloodstream, any physician evaluating your behavior would see what looks like classic signs of advanced, rapid-onset dementia.”

The quiet hum of the wall air conditioner seemed to grow louder in the closed office.