Grandpa

A child comes home in excitement to tell Grandpa all about his day

He walked through the door.

“I'm home!”

No answer.

“Grandpa! Grandpa! I'm home!”

Nothing.

“I aced my test!”

Silence.

He walked up the stairs.

“Grandpa, do you want to test my spelling?!”

Quiet.

“P-H-O-T-O-S-Y-N-T-H-E-S-I-S, photosynthesis!”

He expected an answer.

He got to the door.

“Grandpa, give me a word.”

He put his hand on the handle.

“Ask me a real hard one.”

He opened the door.

“I can even spell -”

“Grandpa?”

He lay there.

White. Cold. Breathless.

“Grandpa? You awake?”

No answer.

“Grandpa, wake up...”