Sophie sat cross-legged at the foot of her grandfather’s bed as the soft afternoon light came through the curtains. The familiar scent of old books and mint tea filled the room. She traced the cover of *The Count of Monte Cristo*.
“Are you ready, Grandpa?” Sophie asked.
Walter smiled. “Always ready for an adventure, my little bookworm. I used to read to you, now you read to me.”
Sophie loved their tradition. Since her grandfather lost his sight four years ago, she had taken over reading their favorite stories.
As they read, Sophie noticed the book was a bit worn. Grandpa Walter sighed and said, “Maybe it’s time to try something new.”
Sophie opened the closet and found a dusty red book wedged behind some boxes. She showed it to Grandpa Walter, who looked surprised and a little nervous.
“That was a gift from my first love, Margaret,” he said quietly. “I never opened it.”
Sophie carefully opened the book and began to read aloud. It told the story of two young lovers separated by difficult circumstances.
Suddenly, a letter slipped out and landed on Sophie’s lap.
She read the letter aloud. It was from Margaret, explaining why she left Walter long ago—because she was losing her sight and didn’t want him to suffer.
Grandpa Walter’s eyes filled with tears. For sixty years, he thought she had left for someone else.
Sophie suggested they try to find Margaret. Her parents were skeptical but agreed to help.
A few days later, they visited a nearby care facility, where they found Margaret, who had been living there for years.
Though both were older and blind, when they met, they recognized each other immediately.
They spent hours sharing memories and enjoying each other’s company.
Grandpa Walter smiled at Sophie and said, “The most magical thing is that we ‘see’ each other as if we were young again.”
Sophie understood then that some love stories never truly end—they just wait for the right moment to continue.
