The Healing Journey

August 7, 2025

When he died, no one told her because they didn’t want to devastate her, but she knew something was wrong.It had been ten months since Sherry’s beloved grandfather Eugene had died, and she still thought about him every day. At night, she would lie awake thinking about him and telling him about her day because when he was alive, her life revolved around him. He came to all her soccer games, and he watched her while her parents worked to make a better life for their family. As a child, she spent her time at his house and listened to his corny jokes, which she didn’t always understand, but which would make him bellow with a loud, boisterous laugh. She, on the other hand, would force a smile just to be polite. He also supported Sherry in her youthful aspirations when she said she wanted to be a famous singer like Selena Gomez. Others snickered and told her to come back to the real world. But her grandfather listened while she did karaoke to music by young pop singers. Then, he would take her to McDonald’s in his old red pickup truck, which meant so much to him … and her.

The day she finally got her parents to admit he was gone was the worst day of her young life and still haunted her. For years, the man had worked hard to build a better life for his family, and she believed he deserved more for all he did.

She still talks to him every day, and recently saw an old red pickup truck coming down her street, and she ran to the door to meet him. Until she remembered, he’s gone.
©J Pisani

***