He sat with his wife’s photo, waiting for a son who had already boarded without him

who still sent birthday cards with handwritten notes. She lived on a small property in Kansas and had called me a few months back, worried about Grandpa. “If anything ever happens, Elena, you call me. Don’t let them tuck him away.”

I called her. She answered on the second ring. “June, it’s Elena. Grandpa needs you. We need you.”

Her voice broke. “Tell continue reading …