Grandma was awake.
A small lamp illuminated the room.
She looked tiny beneath the blankets.
Smaller than I remembered.
Older.
Tired.
But when she saw who stood in the doorway…
Everything changed.
Her eyes widened.
For a moment nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then she whispered one word.
“Thomas.”
The old man broke.
Completely.
Tears spilled down his face.
The kind of tears that come from carrying something for far too long.
“Hello, Mary.”
Grandma’s hand flew to her mouth.
“No.”
A laugh escaped her.
Then another.
Half laughter.
Half crying.
