"Mom, please, you need to get up."
"Cody," Abigail whispered, trying to talk through the tears, "I just need a little longer."
"She died hours ago. You need to call the coroner."
"Can you do it for me? The number is next to the telephone."
"Yes, mom." Cody called the coroner's office who said they would be there in a few minutes to take his grandmother's body.
When the coroner arrived, Cody led him to the bed, where Abigail had curled up next to her mother's dead body.
"Mom, you have to get up. The coroner's here."
"I ca–can't. I can't let her go."
"But mom, you have to." Abigail just shook her head, letting out loud sobs.
Cody whispered his plan into the man's ear. He got in bed and hugged his mother, waiting until she returned his embrace and started crying into his shoulder.
Minutes later, when she'd cried herself to sleep, Cody looked up to see the coroner had taken his grandmother's body. He snuck out of his mom's arms, covered her up with a blanket, and kissed her good night.
He walked into the living room and picked up the phone.
"Hi, Cody. How's grandma?"
"That's why I called, Becky. She's gone."
"How's mom doing?"
"Not great. But I guess that's to be expected. Can you come home for a few days? I'm sure there won't be a funeral. Grandma didn't really have anybody but us, but we will probably do something at the grave."
"Yeah. I had already told my professors that I would possibly have to leave at a moment's notice because of her health. Since I'm an honor student, they gave me four school days. Since it's Friday, I'll catch a train tomorrow morning, take a cab to the house, and will have to head back Thursday morning."
"Thank you, Becky. See you tomorrow."