The Twilight Years

"The Twilight Years" by Kirk Drussai is a science fiction story written in the middle of last century, that examines what it means to get old, how society treats older people, and the desire to stay young in a world that favors youth. It paints a worrying picture of a future where people over sixty are seen as a problem and treated badly. The story follows Sydney and Eleanor Mercer, a retired couple dealing with their worries about becoming useless in a world obsessed with youth. As they get used to being seen as just "sixty plus-ers," they face the awful knowledge that violence against old people is on the rise. After a scary event involving friends and Eleanor's attempts to accept this new reality, their lives end sadly when they are victims of a violent act shown as entertainment. The story powerfully comments on how the elderly are treated, making us wonder about the worth and respect of human life when society changes.