"Grandma, tell me where the snow comes from again, please," I said, blinking back the tears forming in my eyes while I sat beside her hospital bed. She was very sick but that's all the doctors could or would tell us. I pushed the thought from my mind and listened as she retold me her most treasured memory from her long life.
"Katie," her gravelly voice whispered, "Sweetie, I don't know how much longer I'll be here," she paused to let out a coughing fit.
"Grandma, don't talk like that! You're gonna be fine," I said. It was getting increasingly hard for me to hold back the tears that were filling my eyes.
"I hope so, honey, but I want you to promise me something," she said, her voice shaking.
"Anything," I automatically responded.
"Take care of Edward for me," she said as she stared at the falling snow outside her window. "I think I'm going to take a little nap. Go get something to eat; you haven't left here all day. Now, you must be hungry. I'll call in a nurse if I need anything," she promised.
I didn't want to leave, but I was extremely hungry. It was true that I hadn't eaten since yesterday. I walked downstairs to the cafeteria to get something quick so I could hurry back. I bought a sandwich and a Coke, then rushed back upstairs to sit with Grandma.
When I returned, a group of doctors and nurses were crowded in Grandma's room. I ran over and tried to push my way into the room as all the tears I had held back for her sake finally fell. When I finally got though the crowd, I found Grandma's pale, motionless body, her once vibrant eyes completely lifeless. The long beep that signaled her heart had stopped rang though my ears. I couldn't handle it: I fell to my knees, bawling my eyes out, leaving the doctors to drag me back into the hallway.