Chapter 16
That night, Julia couldn't sleep.
Not because of sadness.
But because her heart was beating with something new… something she hadn't felt in so long—*hope*.
She sat by the window, the moonlight spilling onto her desk. Slowly, she pulled out her old journal. The one her grandma gave her.
She opened to the first empty page and began to write:
*Dear Grandma,*
*I've missed you so much. I didn't know how to live without your hugs, your stories, your voice.*
*But something happened today. I smiled again. I wrote something that felt real. Like you were here beside me. And maybe… you are.*
*I still feel broken sometimes. But I think I'm learning to live with the cracks.*
*You told me stories can save people. I didn't believe you before. But now… I do.*
*I love you.*
*Julia*
As she closed the journal, a warm breeze swept through the window, gently flipping the pages back… as if someone was reading along.
And in that moment, Julia felt it—
not just in her heart,
but in the room.
Her grandma was there.
Smiling.