She Returned Home For Christmas Only To Discover Her Family Had Already Left Without Her

the way, the way it had not on Christmas Eve. “She was magnificent, your grandmother.”

“Yes,” I said. “She was.”

Outside, a cardinal finally found the new bird feeder in the courtyard. It landed, cocked its head, considered the situation, and began to eat.

Grandpa watched it with the quiet satisfaction of someone for whom small beautiful things had again continue reading …