The Twinkling Eye

A Story by Glossip Girl

A short story about a Grandmother and her bond with her granddaughter.

A twinkling eye can mean many things. The one that is twinkling at me right now is full of joy. The hazy summer sun gleamed off of Grandma's smile as she told me stories of my mother's childhood adventures. It was two in the afternoon, and I was sitting in the velvety chairs of the Hills Village Senior Center with my 82 year old grandma. Even in her old age, Grandma had plenty of spark; spark that matched her fiery red hair. She was opinionated and full of fire. Sadly, that fire was slowly dying.

When I was younger, my grandmother was always able to pick me up and swing me around. Her pearly whites were always curved into her half- moon smile. We would have pool parties, tea parties and mall days. When times were tough at school, Grandma was my support system. If I came home crying, Grandma would tell me "I still love you to the moon and back." Yet, as years passed, the Grandma I knew slipped through my fingers like sand. She often looked empty and lifeless. Her cheeks were no longer rosy, but a bland pale. Her eyes were hollow logs. The sun in my life was burning out. Slowly, ever slowly dying.

When I walk into my Grandma's room at the senior center, all I see are the large metal beasts she is hooked up to. Their red lights glare at me, taunting me, reminding me of the Grandma I used to know. When I approach her, she slightly moves her head. Her lips are gray, and skin transparent. She whispers to me as tears rush down my face, 'I love you to the moon an-an" Her words are cut off by a fit of coughing. She wheezes to catch her breath. All I can remember after that is nurses rushing in, my body being pushed aside, and the feeling of being punched in the stomach as a morbid white sheet is placed over my Grandmothers head.

Numbness jolts through my body as I walk into the funeral. At the front, is a casket, holding my dear Grandmother. I have been asked to speak and after the first prayers, it is time. With shaky knees, I walk up to the podium. I look out into the audience, searching for Grandma. Pain jolts through me as I realize she's not there. I look down at my speech, and tears prick my eyes. I decide to speak from my heart, instead of from the paper. "Grandma, I miss you with all my heart. The day when we see each other again will be a glorious one. We'll have a giant tea party with sandwiches and cookies. Oh yeah, and we'll have love. See you there, Grandma and remember, I love you to the moon and back.