A Beautiful Fate Page 18

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  “Ava.”

  My grandpa called to me from behind his closed door. I saw his name, Perry Baio, on the nameplate and tried to suppress the chills that ran down my back.

  “Ava, come.”

  For the very first time I opened one of the doors in the hospital. My cold scissors in my hand.

  “Papa?” I called.

  My grandpa was there, in the bed he had always had at his home. I could smell Margaux’s perfume -- baio, For Women; the lavender and vanilla scent hung lightly in the air.

  “It’s me, Ava. Don’t be scared; come.”

  I walked into the room and my grandpa reached his hand out to me. It trembled and shook. I put his hand in mine and rubbed his bumpy knuckles with my thumb.

  “It is my time. I need you to allow me to leave.”

  His voice was scratchy and rough.

  “What? What are you talking about, Papa?”

  He nodded at my scissors.

  “Cut the thread, Ava, please.”

  I held my scissors up and he smiled.

  “Remember, Ava that I love you. Tell your mother I love her, too, very much.”

  “Grandpa… I don’t understand.”

  “Please.”

  Taking the red, beautiful thread in my hands, I watched the colors swirl. In one swift motion, I took the thread across the blade and sliced it in two. Monitors beeped all around me. Bile rose up in my chest. Panic set in; my heart pounded as though it might explode.