The Best Thing

by Mariana Zapata

you gave me a reason to live. And I’m going to haunt you both for the rest of your lives. That creaking noise you hear in the attic? It’s me. The shadow you see out of the corner of your eye? That’s me too. I love you both. You know that. You know what you mean to me. I love you all. I’m never far away. Do what you have to do to be happy, okay? No one else is going to do it for you.” Do what you have to do to be happy.

For the life I had that even on the worst, most frustrating day, I could smile. I love you so much, old man. Every good thing in my life has been because of you. Thank you for being the best grandpa/grandma/uncle/brother/best friend/soul mate/enemy I could ever ask for, I threw out to him, knowing he was always listening, because some things never changed. No vampire has ever been loved as much as you, Grandpa Gus. Tell my dad I said hi.