Ruth closed her eyes.
“I knew,” she whispered. “I knew. I stood across the street. I watched them carry him out. I just kept hoping somebody had made a mistake.”
Grandma stroked her hand.
“But he left something behind, Ruth,” she said. “Somebody I wanted you to meet.”
She turned around and looked at me.
I was still standing just inside the doorway. I couldn’t move. My legs felt like they belonged to someone else.
“Come here, Daniel,” Grandma said.
I walked to the side of the bed.
Ruth turned her head slowly on the pillow. She looked up at me.
And she gasped.
It was a small sound. Barely a breath. But her whole body went still. Her eyes moved over my face. My hair. My chin. My hands.
“Oh,” she whispered. “Oh, my goodness.”
“Hi,” I said. My voice came out in a croak. “I’m Daniel.”
