I first read this story about six years ago in the anthology Science Fiction Hall of Fame Vol 1 and it has haunted me more than any other book or film or TV show I've read or seen since.
This is in part because Charlie has to accept the bitterly cruel knowledge that he will, piece by piece, be forced to forfeit his mental acuity, his memory, his relationships, and his dignity. Truly, he is losing the sum of his identity, except his heart. It may or may not be a poor comparison, but this story makes me very fearful of Alzheimer's disease, which seems to become closer to an inevitability as we enjoy longer lives.
The second reason this story cuts so close to the bone for me is it puts me in mind of my sibling. This person has suffered all their life with a learning disability, high anxiety, and morbid obesity brought on not by their diet, but by some other factor no doctor had been able to diagnose in decades of fruitless appointments. This individual has been afforded none of the good fortune I have, but like Charlie, they maintain a kindness and determination that belies more grit than most of us could ever summon. This story makes me very ashamed I have never been able to improve my sibling's lot in life.
I almost didn't listen this week, knowing how I would be affected, but I trusted it would be well treated by Escape Artists, and was not disappointed. Thank you Alasdair and Dave.