And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

by Fredrik Backman

Grandpa always calls him “Noahnoah” because he likes his grandson’s name twice as much as everyone else’s.

Grandpa always says that the years will allow them to meet in the middle, when the boy’s thoughts expand and Grandpa’s contract.

“Noahnoah, promise me something, one very last thing: once your good-bye is perfect, you have to leave me and not look back. Live your life. It’s an awful thing to miss someone who’s still here.”