‘Lily?’ When I open my eyes, my grandfather is standing in front of me, looking down at me. 

‘Is there a spare seat?’ he asks, pointing to the grass next to me. 

‘Always for you,’ I say and scoot a little to the side as he sits down on the grass next to me. 

‘Did you sleep well?’ I ask him and look at him. 

Looking at him so close, I see that he looks older. Tired, even though he's just had a nap. 

‘Yes, you should start that too. The sooner the better,’ he says teasingly. 

‘I'll remember that,’ I answer him and look up into the treetops again, but the two birds have flown away in the meantime. 

‘Did you enjoy Giglio?’ he asks me after a long pause during which we both just sat quietly next to each other. 

‘Yes, it was great! I experienced so much and made two new friends. I got on well with Anne right from the start and we laughed and talked a lot together. I told her about you and she would love to meet you. But I was also very worried about you, Grandad. Especially when you were in hospital. How are you doing? Are you feeling better?’ 

He listens to me attentively the whole time, but when I start talking about my worries about him and the hospital, he turns away and seems absent. 

We sit there in silence without him giving me an answer. When I can't stand the silence any longer, I take a breath to say something, but then he starts talking. 

‘You know, Lily, if you want to, you can worry about anything and everything in life at any time. But that's not life. Life is happening right now, not yesterday or tomorrow. And right now, here in this moment with you under our apple tree, I'm fine. I enjoy the time with you, I like listening to you and I like the way the sun shines on my face. But when I think about tomorrow, I don't know how I'll feel. But nobody knows that for sure. Yes I am ill and I don't know how that will affect both our lives and our family's lives in the future, but no matter what Lily, I will be there for you. I know I can't take away your worries, but like me, try to be present in the moment and enjoy everything that life offers you. Meanwhile, I'll watch from the side and be your biggest fan.’ 

With the last sentence, he looks directly at me again. I feel tears running down my face and I start to sob. My body starts to shake and I can feel the warmth disappearing from my body. My grandfather takes me in his arms and holds me tight. I let myself fall into his embrace and realise how my heart becomes lighter. 

It feels so good to be with him again, to hear his voice and to see that he is still the same. 

‘I'm sorry,’ I say between sobs. 

‘It's okay. I'm here.’ he replies, squeezing me even tighter. 

When I slowly calm down and the sobs have stopped, I slowly lift my head and release myself from the embrace.

 ‘Why are you so wise?’ I ask him. 

He starts to laugh and replies, ‘It's because I take a nap every day.` 

A smile spreads across my face. I can feel my body getting warmer again and the sun is slowly getting so high that the apple tree no longer offers us much shade. 

‘What are you two doing out there?’ my mum calls out from the open door into the garden. 

‘We're enjoying the moment. You should try it too.’ my grandfather calls to her. 

‘Well, when you've finished enjoying it, you can come in. There's a fresh apple pie on the table and I can't guarantee there'll be a slice for everyone for long.’ she calls back and disappears back into the house. 

‘Oh, that sounds tempting. Are you coming too Lily?’ my grandfather asks me and gets up. 

‘I'll be right there,’ I answer him and take my mobile phone to the front. 

‘All right, I'll save you a piece. And say hello to Anne for me.’ He looks in the direction of my mobile phone. 

‘She seems to make you laugh. I like that.’ And with that, he disappears into the house. 

I look after him in surprise. How did he know the message was from Anne? I didn't tell him anything about it. 

As I open the message from Anne again, I realise that my nervousness is returning. Why do I find it more difficult to write a message to Anne than to talk to her? I usually experience the opposite with other people. 

How am I supposed to summarise this day in a message and not write a whole novel, I ask myself as my fingers hover over the letters once again. There's only one solution, I think to myself and start typing. As I walk towards the house, I am satisfied with my message to Anne.

I'm glad you got home safely. Would you have time for a walk tomorrow? It's been a long day today and I'd like to tell you about it in person if you like? x

Satisfied, but also nervous. But I guess I'll have to get used to this feeling. 

Just as I sit down at the table, my phone vibrates again and I see the message from Anne.

Sure, give me the time and place and I'll be there tomorrow. x