The next morning, I heard a huge pound in the front. I got up quickly. I ran outside, still in my P.J. and found my grandfather walking weakly towards the dojo with a scroll in his hand. Could it be…the War Notice? My eyes widen and I ran towards my grandfather, yelling, "No, you can't! You can't go! Grandfather, you're going to get killed!" I hugged my only family I had and cried. I had a reason to cry. My grandfather going to the battlefield and get murdered by the Errorists. I'm no help at all. I had to keep Grandfather's training hall going.
Tae rubbed her eyes and yawned. She came fully awake when she saw the War Notice in my grandfather's hand and me in tears. She leaned against a wall and peeked over at us.
"Please, don't go, Grandfather," I said, tugging on his old, wrinkled shirt. I was on my knees, begging him not to leave.
Grandfather looked down on me, sadly. He placed his wrinkled hand on top of my head. He sighed and said, "I'm sorry, Jing. If I don't return home, I want you to know something. You're always like a real son to me. All theses years… remember your training…son." He walked towards the dojo and disappeared like a ghost.
A year past, Grandfather didn't return home yet. The war is over now, and he's still not home. Grandfather's dead. For the last two months, I've been thinking the same thing. I held my hair, tightly and tried to think about happy thoughts. It didn't work. I got so bad; I punched the white wall of the morning room with my bare fist. I breathed heavily, as I heard the door behind me slide open.
"Grandfather?" I asked, turning around quickly, but it wasn't him. "Tae, I'm sorry. I thought you were my—"
"Grandfather?" she said, took a step forward, "Jing, I got something to tell you."
"Not now, Tae. I'm thinking," I said, turning my back, staring at the bottoms of my parents red and gold wedding kimonos.
Tae looked down and sadly said, "It's about your grandfather, Jing."
"What? He's alive?" I said, walking towards Tae, waiting for the news.
She didn't say anything for a few seconds. Tae continued to look down. I knew it. He died. Murdered. My face turned emotionless. I can't believe my last hope… my idol… my father, gone. Tae walked towards me and gave me a hug. She whispered, "I'm sorry," into my ear. I wrapped my arms around her and we cried together, still holding on to each other for comfort. All I got now is Tae. My only family left.