The day Will didn't come home

Huh. Will should have been home by now. The door was locked and the lights were off, so I guess I don't have to make dinner yet.

Throwing my stuff on the ground, I drop on the couch. What am I going to do with this free time? I pick up the home phone, trying to call Will quickly. Where could he be?

A few minutes pass by, and I still have no response. Well, maybe I can catch up on my knitting. Wait, but I forgot how to knit. Maybe I can catch up on my reality shows? Oh, Will canceled the TV subscriptions.

Oh, I am hungry. We have those delicious chocolates in the pantry. I'm going to grab a few of those. And maybe a cup of water. Oh, and with those little umbrellas that they put in fancy drinks! It will be awesome.

Oh, those are so good. I am going to go weigh myself. Hmm...okay. Still good.

Maybe I should mow the lawn, just so I can help Will and burn down some calories. But, that is his job and I am not about to give him less work around the house. That would be too much for me.

I wonder where Silvia and Paul are. Maybe they are still at school, or are riding their bikes to a friends house. Hopefully, they will be home later.

Maybe I can start cooking. But I don't want to cook just yet! But I am sooo hungry! Okay, I can just take a nap. It is three o'clock, I can wake up at four o'clock.

;

What time is it? clunk Seven o'clock? Hmm, is Will in bed ye- nope. The other side is still empty. Where is he?

Maybe he is at Dave's house. They always hangout. But, it's not Wednesday. And, it's too late. The only thing he could be doing is maybe working on Dave's truck, but, again, it is too late. Hmm, where could he be?

Maybe I need some fresh air. Yeah, go for a drive and then come back. I will see his car in the driveway and he will be waiting by the porch, smoking a cigar and waiting to give me a hug. Maybe Silvia and Paul will be playing in the yard. Then, I can go inside and make some cookies and hot chocolate. It is pretty cold outside.

Okay, I have my jacket on, now where is the key? Oh, there it is. Oh, it's cold. Whatever, it still is pretty cold outside.

;

Okay, about to pull into my street. Hopefully Will is going to be back. And-nope. He is not back. Where could they be?

I am going to go back inside. Maybe he is just waiting inside.

Oh, is that Marie? "Hi Marie!"

"Mrs, you need to take your medication."

"What are you talking about, Marie? I am not in a nursing home. I live in my own house and Will is going to come back from work any minute now. Silvia and Paul will too."

"Ma'am, Will has been dead for years."

Suddenly, everything comes back. I am Ophelia Ram, and I am 90-something years old. Will has been dead for years and Silvia and Paul have their own children. They put me on hospital spice, or was it hospice? I don't know. They put me here with this nosy nurse for some reason. Something about dimensions.

"Ms, where are my kids?"

"They will be visiting tomorrow. Ready to take your medication and go to bed?"

"Yes ma'am."

;

"Hi mom."

I shake a random person's hand. "Who are you?"

"I am your daughter, mom. Silvia. This is Wendy, and she is 38. My middle, Aurora, is 31. And my youngest, Will Jr, is 26. This is my husband, Larry."

I look in awe. I touch each person's hands, the warmth washing over me. "You named this one," I said, pointing at the youngest, "after Will?"

Silvia nods as tears stream from her eyes. I gave her a hug, patting her back. "Is Paul coming?"

"Yes, momma. He will be coming later."

;

After a little while, I hear their footsteps leaving. 3 new sets replace them. "Is that you, Paul?"

"Yes, ma'am. This is my wife, Patty, and my daughter, Maya."

I look at Maya. She looks like me, when I was younger.

We spend the rest of the night together, hanging out and talking. Finally, they have to leave.

;

What time is it? Oh, it's 2 AM. Maybe I should go back to bed. Maybe...I...should fall...asleep...

;

Ophelia Ram, died peacefully in her bed at 97 years old. Born January 4th, 1920. Died November 8th, 2017. She is survived by her two children, Silvia Parker and her husband, along with their 3 children. She is also survived by her son and his family.

;

I watch the funeral procession walk over to my grave. Paul, his cousin, Will Jr, and Larry are the pallbearers. They slowly set the light-blue casket into the ground. Silvia blows her nose wildly while her kids hold their own children. They didn't bring them when they came to visit me I think.

The pastor holds Paul and Silvia's hands, telling them I am in a better place. I smile. One of my great-grandchildren turned their head toward my grave and smiled, saying "Hi, Grandma Eli!"

I wave back solemnly, grinning as they continue to play with their cousins.

Suddenly, I hear music coming from behind me. I turn, seeing all sorts of dead people floating around, and celebrating my coming. I instantly see Will, wearing his blue button-down with grey suspenders, standing there. I jumped from where I was perched and ran to him, hugging him tightly.

The rest of the afternoon, I point out all of our children and great-grandchildren. He smiles at how adorable they are and almost starts tearing up when I mention Will Jr. "Silvia named him after me?"

I nod. Suddenly, a white light shines on both of us. We hold hands and ascend, waving goodbye to our relatives.