Her mother kept coming in to bother her and tell her that she had to eat, but all Astrid could say was “I’m not hungry.” This time when the door opened again, she pulled her blanket and pillow over her head, and said “please leave me alone.” Astrid felt someone sit on the bed next to her. “I know you miss him, so do I. Laying around in a dark room while the sun shines outside, won’t help matters, believe me I’ve tried it. There isn’t an hour of any given day that I don’t think about your grandpa.” The tears rolled down Astrid’s cheeks as she turned over and buried her face in her grandmother’s chest. The smell comforted her instantly. “Tell me exactly why you’re crying my love.” She whispered into Astrid’s hair. Astrid couldn’t bring herself to speak; the words wouldn’t form in her mouth. After a few minutes she said; “I can’t, I don’t want you to be mad at me.” She sobbed. Her grandmother took Astrid’s face in her hands and looked her in the eye.
