In Italy, healthcare is free.

That’s what people say.

Free doesn’t mean care.
It means the system already knows where you live.

My wife received a call from the national health service:

“It’s time for your mammogram.”

Appointment scheduled. No discussion.

We went.

The exam was clean. Fast. Professional.

The doctor said:

“You’ll get the results in seven days. If we see something, we’ll schedule an ultrasound.”

Then she looked at me.

“You should also get a colonoscopy. At your age, it’s recommended.”

I smiled.

“What age do you think I am?”

She looked at me and said:

“Forty-one.”

I laughed.

“I’m sixty-one.”

Silence.

Then her face changed completely.

Same room.
Same doctor.
Same body.

Different age. Different urgency.

For ten seconds I was young again.

Then the healthcare system corrected its mistake.

Calabrian healthcare.

Nando