Summary

In “Belavista,” Alice is admitted to Belavista after failing a test. She may have “botched the executive function” or “social integration” sections (97). She may have become “extremely difficult” to live with (98, Otsuka’s italics). Her daughter or husband may have told her they were going for a drive or making arrangements and then taken her to Belavista (98).

Belavista is “a long-term, for-profit memory residence” (98). They promise to meet all of their residents’ “evolving needs” (98). Everything at Belavista is highly regulated, including when the residents eat and sleep and what they are allowed to keep in their rooms.

Belavista wants Alice to know her condition is terminal. Belavista is home to many people like Alice. Her condition affects people of all classes, races, and backgrounds. The condition has no explanation or “‘higher purpose’” (101). Living with the condition may make Alice wish she had done more...