A moving truck idled in front of a house. Different street. Different neighborhood. Different state.
The man stood on the porch, leaning on a cane, watching two movers carry a sofa through the front door. His limp was pronounced; he shifted his weight to the good leg with each step.
An elderly woman crossed the lawn, a plate of cookies in her hands, a smile spread across her face.
"Welcome to the neighborhood, dear!" Her voice carried. "I'm Mildred. So lovely to have a new face on the street. You just let me know if you need anything at all."
The man turned. A warm smile spread across his face, creasing the corners of his eyes. "That's so kind of you, Mildred." His voice was gentle, sincere. He took a cookie. "I'm Robert. It's a pleasure to be here."
Mildred beamed, bustled back across the lawn.
His smile faded slowly, like a light dimming. He turned to face his new house. A blank canvas.
He took a bite of the cookie. Chewed. His eyes were distant, fixed on something only he could see. He didn't plan. He didn't remember.
He simply stood in the sun, leaning on his cane, and chewed.
The experiment was over. A new one was about to begin.
Some people are moving boxes from a moving truck that is parked in front of a different house, in a different neighborhood, in a different state.
The man, now with a cane and a pronounced limp, is directing the movers.
An elderly lady comes over from the house nearby with a plate of cookies.
"Welcome to the neighborhood, dear!" she says, beaming. "I'm Mildred. It's so lovely to have a new face on the street. You just let me know if you need anything at all."
Robert turns to her, a warm smile spreading across his face. "That's so kind of you, Mildred," he says, his voice gentle and sincere as he takes a cookie. "I'm Robert. It's a pleasure to be here."
As Mildred bustles back to her house, Robert's smile slowly fades. He turns around, looking at his new house, a blank canvas.
He takes a bite of the cookie. His eyes distant and thoughtful. He is not planning. He is not remembering. He is simply, quietly, content.
The experiment is over. A new one is about to begin.