The Last Night With Grandpa

My grandfather had been unwell for a long time, confined to his chair by the window. I was staying the night to help out. At one point, I went to fetch a blanket from the hall cupboard.

When I came back into the room, the air felt heavy and still. Grandpa looked at me and smiled softly. ‘They have come to take me on a long journey,’ he said. He gestured to the empty corner of the room. ‘My old friends are waiting.’ We thought his mind was wandering, tired from his long illness. We assured him he was just dreaming and helped him settle back to sleep.

In the morning, he was gone, peaceful in his rest. My father drove me back to our house later that day. Exhausted, I lay down on my bed and fell into a deep sleep. My body felt locked in place, and a shadow seemed to fill the room.