Excerpt from “Perfect Strangers” (2012)

I left immediately after my grandfather's funeral. I heard peoples stares. Saw their thoughts. "Disrespectful." "Ungrateful."

Maybe they are right.

I knew I couldn't be around them. All the mourners. Taking me by the hand. Telling me how much he loved me. I already know all of this.

It doesn't help. It doesn't matter.

Truth is, I loved my grandfather. More than anyone. He raised me me after my own father left, his son. But I let him down in the end. My guilt driving me to pack my bags before the funeral even started. Keys in hand before he had been lowered the full six feet.

Blindly staring at the road. Eyes stinging from held back tears, just now beginning to spill over. Finally I'm forced to pull aside. Giving in now that I'm finally alone.

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