I was at home, on the couch of my apartment. My roomate had overtime today so I was home alone. While I was watching shows and getting homework done, my mother called. I picked up thinking she was checking up on me. She sounded frantic and was barely getting her words out. "Your grandpa's in the hospital, they say he doesn't have much time." She said holding back tears. I couldn't process those cursed words. I dropped my phone and put on my coat and shoes. Running to the car as fast as I could. I drove to the hospital he was in, breaking the speed limit the whole drive. When I got into the building's front desk the lady asked me who I was here for. I told her my grandpa's name, and she looked at me with pity in her eyes. "Room 201, I'm so sorry honey." I bolted to the stairs not bothered to take the elevator. I reached his room and threw open the door. My mother, father, and two brothers were there. Along with my step grandmother and my aunts. They were all crying their eyes out. I looked to see my grandfather on the hospital bed, hooked up to mutiple machines. I walked over slowly. "Ethan....oh I missed you." I knelt down and took his frail hand. "Papa, I should've spent more time with you. I should've-" I choked on my words as the tears built up. "Hey listen to me, there's nothing in the world that could've prepared you or I for this. It's not your fault. And it never will be. I loved you the minute your mama brought you into this world. And the same with your brothers" he looked to them and smiled. The smile that brought me to my favourite places and cheered me up on bad days. I would never see that smile again. "Ethan, you will always be papa's angel. No matter what job you have or who you marry." I couldn't hold back the tears, but I needed to see his face. "I loved all of you, thank you for a life that I will remember." We all couldn't hold back anymore.
Then the sound I dreaded most could be heard throughout the room.
He was gone.
The man that gave us so much joy and knowledge, was gone. I couldn't hear my family's cries. I could only hear the ringing of the heart monitor. The room was spinning, I couldn't see. All I could feel was my heart sinking evermore into my chest.
The ringing stopped.

I woke up in a cold sweat on the couch. Looking around for my phone. It was 2 am, when I heard the apartment door open. I fell off the couch and ran to the door. It was my roomate, Justin. He looked me in the eyes and I looked back. "Are you okay? You seem sick." I checked my phone's call history, ignoring his question. No calls. No texts. Nothing. I raised my glance to meet his. I broke down and he took me into his arms. We sat on the floor for about half an hour, before he put me to bed.
In the morning I packed my bags and loaded up the car. "Have fun bud." He gave me a pat on the head and I was off. It took some time but I arrived. I knocked on the house's front door and waited. It opened and I was greeted with a hug.
"Ethan....oh I missed you."




© smolman