It was June 10, 2010 when I heard my grandpa was not feeling very well. My parents got a phone call that morning at 4:30. They rushed out of bed and left the house leaving my sisters and I confused. My older sister, Rossiel, did not say a word and left the room. She went to the living room and took out the photo albums. She started looking at pictures of my grandpa and started to cry. That is how I knew that this time my grandpa was really sick. Thank god my sister had a car. I woke up my other sister, Laritza, and we left. None of us said a word, you could hear drop in the car because it was so silent. We finally arrived at my grandparents apartment and dashed to their door. The door was already open and we could hear people crying and screaming. That is when I started to get scared. I opened my grandparent’s door and saw my mom right away. I went to her crying.

“Mami what is happening?” I said.

“Is Abuelo okay?” I questioned her.

That very moment at 11 years old, I found out that my Abuelo had passed away. My heart broke into millions of pieces. My grandpa was very sick with his liver and he was getting really old. He died at the age of 85, 16 days before his birthday.

Through all that chaos I remembered all the things we have done together since I was little. To throwing me in the air, to dancing with me,to having many sleepovers and how he asked me if I brought him anything, every single time I go over his house. One time when he asked me if I brought him anything, I told him that I brought him his favorite granddaughter. He asked me where she is and I said right in front of you. He laughed so hard that tears came out. He was so happy that I actually brought him something that he loves.He also loves french fries, I used to walk to Wendy’s with my sister to buy him some fries. He appreciated it so much that he smiled from ear to ear. I have not seen that smile in a long time because he was very ill. The last time I spent a full day with my grandpa was the weekend before he died. It was not that fun but I will cherish that moment forever because I was with him on his last Saturday ever. We went to BJ’s in Salem and bought him items for his house. My grandma Maria was there, also my aunt Mercedes. He told me that he was craving an ICEE and I told my aunt and she bought him one. His favorite kind was the cherry flavor, mine too, and we both shared it.

My Abuelo was the only grandpa I was close with. My other grandpa lives in the Dominican Republic, his name is Anacleto and I only get to see him once every two years. That is why I was so torn because we were so close and he was the only grandpa I could see everyday.Now I am left with one grandpa and two grandmas. I still love him till this day. I remember my Abuelo every second of everyday. I miss him so much and I miss saying Abuelo. It has been a little more than three years since I have seen him. But, I know that he is looking down on me and I know that one day I will see him soon. I love you Abuelo Meme!