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

me where you are. I’ll be waiting.”

I bought two bus tickets for the next departure. The station was nearly empty. I helped Grandpa into a seat, wrapped him in my scarf, and rested his head on my shoulder.

He fell asleep before the engine even rumbled to life. We rode into the sunrise, past fields and telephone poles and sleepy towns. I watched the landscape continue reading …