At The End Of My Rope

When Grandpa finally moved, it was to shake off my hand. He picked up his newspaper again. I looked up, stunned. This was not the response I anticipated. ‘Grandpa?’ ‘You should go now. I’m tired.’ I opened my mouth, but I had no idea what else I could say. I rose to my feet slowly. This trip was in vain. ‘Take care of yourself, Grandpa.’ I clenched my fist, frustrated. When I turned around and was about to leave, I heard Grandpa’s tired voice. It was barely above a whisper. I almost missed it. But I caught my name. ‘Amiyah, go. Leave Lisbern and never come back.’ I looked back. He was staring straight at me, but the look in his eyes was indecipherable. I stayed for another fifteen minutes, but he never uttered another word. I was disappointed, of course. But I was also worried. The way Grandpa reacted made me realise that maybe my revelation had not come as a shock to him. Maybe he already knew about the existence of Carl Foster. Yet, he kept quiet. Was he trying to protect Rainey? Bot