I Was Still a Virgin at 26, and Dad Always Warned Me, “Stop Sitting on Grandpa’s Lap and Be Careful Around Him.” I Never Listened… Until Grandpa Came to Me One Night and Asked, “Will You Sleep Beside Me Tonight?”

I giggled.

For a while, it felt like an ordinary family night.

We ate popcorn.

We drank hot chocolate.

Grandpa told me stories about Mom when she was a little girl.

Apparently, she once put a frog in his briefcase.

“Mom!”

“You did?”

Mom covered her face.

“I was six.”

“You were twelve.”

“Dad!”

I laughed so hard I nearly spilled my hot chocolate.

Grandpa looked at me.

“You see? Your mother has always been trouble.”

Mom shook her head.

“You’re the one who taught me.”

“Exactly.”

For a few minutes, nobody talked about hospitals.

Nobody talked about tomorrow.

Nobody talked about fear.

We simply watched the sky.

Then, at 2:13 in the morning, it happened.

A bright streak of light crossed the darkness.

I jumped up.

“I SAW IT!”

Grandpa laughed.

“Good.”

Another one appeared.

Then another.

I pressed my face against the window.

“Grandpa!”

“I see it.”

“Did you make them?”