Terminal Lucidity

by Auburn C. Piper

Danny Johnson, a retired teacher and legendary coach, lives in the hazy twilight of Alzheimer's, his days a blur of fragmented memories and confused identities. But one crisp morning, a startling clarity breaks through the a fleeting window of his former self. He remembers everything, including an urgent, long-forgotten promise he made years ago—a promise that requires an immediate journey to a distant location. Knowing this lucidity is temporary, a fragile bubble about to burst, Danny is desperate. His expired license and unpredictable state make self-travel impossible. Enter Tasha, a sharp, resourceful former student of his, often overlooked but drawn to Danny’s quiet desperation. Intrigued, she agrees to be his chauffeur on a road trip that quickly becomes a desperate race against time. As Danny’s wife and family desperately search for him, and as his memories resurface and fade, Tasha must navigate not only the physical roads but also the labyrinth of his fragmented past, deciphering cryptic clues and protecting him from the encroaching illness, all while safeguarding the crucial promise he needs to fulfill.

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2025

About the author

I am a 60-year-old trying to change his stars. I went back to school last year (2025) to complete my Elementary Education degree, which I started in 1992. Writing has been a part of my life since I started my first diary in 5th grade. Journaling, writing short stories, novellas, novels, screenplays, and columns, I love it all.
I have a lot of material and soon will be posting my writing (short stories, novels) on my Substack blog for free. I hope that if you read this, you will try it out and follow it. Soon, I hope to have something for everyone there.
https://auburncpiper.substack.com/
If you read something you like, please let me know. There is nothing I like more than discussing stories. And if there is something you think I would be interested in reading, please let me know.