Never Forget

We were on a ski lift, Vanderdecken12 and me, going all the way to the top of a very, very high mountain. 30 minute lift.
"Ben," he said, "I've been thinking a lot about the disaster in Haiti..."
"Yeah?"
"I never understood..." he paused.
"Never understood what?"
"How people...how people could be wasteful...buying expensive cars...gigantic houses they don't need..." he sighed, but then continued, "going on luxurious trips."
I took off my ski mask and nodded attentively.
He continued with what seemed like one run-on sentence. "I always assumed it was just fair, that those who worked hard got to spend what they earned, that made sense, it always did, and we should help when we can, but that's just it. And as I was doing undercover missions and that kind of stuff, where you sacrifice everything, if necessary, I realized how much people like Aleck, who gave his whole life to fighting crime, truly give to those who need. They protect us, so that we can provide for the poor, and we squander, Ben..." he looked at me as though his life depended on getting his message across, "we squander it. And people die."
All I could do to respond was nod feebly.
"Ben, something's gotta be done! People can't live this way. We..have...to...." He blinked. Blinked again. Closed his eyes for a few seconds. Opened them...."Who are you?" he yelled, "Get away from me!" and he dove off the ski-lift. Landing face-first in the snow, he rolled over but then held completely still. I waited anxiously until lift went directly over a ski jump, and I jumped off as well, rushing nervously down to meet him.
"Vanderdecken!" I cried as I arrived, "what happened?"
He looked from where he had fallen, and yelled "Get away from me!"
"Vander, it's me!"
"Get away from me! You're the enemy! You must be stopped, you fool!"
I unhooked from my skis and ran up to him, holding up his head and looking in his yes, "Vanderdecken, it's me." I softly said.
Then a fog cleared from his eyes and he looked back at mine, "Ben, that you?"
I sighed in relief.
"Oh, I must have mistook you for somebody else. But, what was I thinking?" He looked up at the ski lift, "I was saying something important..." he paused, eying me curiously, "to you" he pointed, "but now I can't remember..."
"Don't worry about it." I shook my head, hardly eager to talk about it any further, "Let's get you back to the resort."

That was on Friday. Today, we've had the doctors examine him and it turns out his memory is slowly deteriorating. His brain seems to be the first thing to go, "Just as I told him." The doctor muttered.
I sighed. For being the one person on earth I trust, Vanderdecken12 sure hasn't been telling me much. But it's just as well. I now know how precious our time really is. He may not die until for a few months, but who knows how long he'll remember me?