He watched his grandchildren leave, a sense of finality casting his heart in a shadow.

Barragan turned into his small house, shuffling over to the coffee that he'd left on the table.

Toys were strewn on the couches, and there was a pink sparkling pencil on the table.

He smiled, touching each item, engraving them in his memory.

He was old, he knew, and he wouldn't be here forever. Any time he had left with his family was sacred.

Barragan had had a good life; filled with love.

His wife had died nearly five years ago, due to breast cancer, and while he was sad, he was also glad she wasn't suffering any longer.

His children, numbering six in total, had all grown up, gone to college and moved out.

Of the six, four had married, while the two youngest were in University; one in America, the other in China.

Of the four married children he had, three had children of their own, and the fourth had one on the way.

Barragan loved them all.

He didn't have many friends in his old age, most having moved to old folk homes around the region or in with family, while others were dead.

And he knew in his heart that he would join the friends that were gone soon, possibly within the next year or two.

The night was warm, and Barragan wandered his home, coffee in hand. The television had been turned off, the books placed down and the elder was more than ready to go to bed.

Exhaustion lined his bones as he trudged towards his bed, climbing under the covers and sighing.

Warmth spread up his weary body, and he drifted to sleep.

"Where's Jii-san, Oka-san?" The little boy tugged his mother's long dress.

"He's gone to Heaven, kiddo." She soothed, brushing a strand of her purple-tinted hair back.

"What's Heaven?" The child asked, curiosity in his eyes.

"It's where all the very good people go when they die."

"Charrlotte," Her husband moved to take the child. "It's your turn."

Charlotte moved towards the stand which the eldest of her brothers had taken.

"My father," She began. "What can I say? He was hilarious. I don't think he ever once raised his voice at me."

"That's cause you're a girl!"

"Quiet, Ggio." Charlotte glared at her youngest brother playfully. "You get to talk later."

They laughed, before falling quiet.

-;-

Barragan Louisenbarin

Beloved Grandfather and friend

The Life of the Dead is Placed Within the Memory of the Living