Recently, My 12-Year-Old Grandson Started Treating His 3-Year-Old Sister Roughly, Making Her Cry and Secretly Taking Her Into a Locked Room. One Day, I Heard Him Whisper, “If You Tell Grandma What We’re Doing in That Room, Everything Will Be Ruined.” But When I Opened That Door, What I Saw Made My Knees Go Weak…

“Jake! What have you done?”

His eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry, Grandma.”

Before I could say anything else, he pulled a small package from beneath the bed.

When he opened it, my knees nearly gave way.

Inside was a handmade teddy bear.

Its body was sewn from Robert’s blue shirt, with his old shirt pocket attached to its chest.

Above the pocket was a tiny red heart, embroidered with one word:

“Grandma.”

I sank onto the bed.

“Jake… what is this?”

“It’s your birthday

present, Grandma. Tomorrow is your birthday.”

I had completely forgotten.

Jake sat beside me.

“We wanted you to have something of Grandpa’s forever. Mom told us you sometimes sleep hugging his shirt.”

Tears filled my eyes.

“But why was Lily crying?”

“Because she misses Grandpa. Every time we work on the bear, she asks when he’ll come back.”

Lily whispered, “I wanted to see Grandpa again.”

I pulled her closer.