The children we raised knew something wasn’t quite right with mommy and daddy. They asked about it, but I knew they weren’t ready.

Falling out of love is complicated, especially when the other person is clueless. How was I supposed to do this? Oh, how was he so blind as to miss how I’d recoil when he touched my skin, was so tense when I’d talk to him? Maybe he knew but didn’t want to leave me. That man was always so needy. I wasted away until my children grew bold, my house was sold, my hands too weak to hold, and my hair no longer gold, but gray.

That one man I’d been married to disappeared one day, as they all say. Now I’m in a nursing home where the people are old, and I don’t want to stay. I’m still 23, at least in spirit, even though the kids call me “Grandma dearest.”

Not all of my kids still visit me, and I’m keeping that in mind as I finalize the will. Jenny stops by every week, but the girl can never sit still! I’ve always liked Trevor, but he’d probably waste the money on some half-baked endeavor. Then there’s Beatrice. Next! (I’m not a fan of all her tricks.) I’m sure Frank is going places. I don’t want Trinity to have it, she’d probably waste it. As for Ben, that kid doesn’t need the money. But what about Honey?

I thought I had a cold but I feel extra bad. Every sneeze racks my body, every sniffly inhale feels like the last. My good health may soon be a thing of the past.

The sickness has become something more serious. I’m quarantined now, but I’m still quite delirious. Every day as I rot in bed, I think of the past. Every good memory could have been the last. But no, life has been good. I haven’t done too many extraordinary things, but I’ve had fun. I’d be was okay if it was all done.