a king in my eyes

he's not supposed to get hurt.

he's not supposed to feel pain.

this man that named me rose.

this man who makes me feel so special.

makes me feel loved.

this incredibly wise man, who never finished high school.

he had a painting done of me. twice, because the first one wasn't good enough. the man who greets everyone he sees, and is able to love everyone no matter what. the man who is so old, but seems so innocent. this man who has been through more than i could imagine.

a widower to his suicidal wife. a father to children who won't speak to him. a grandfather to a child who was never loved. a recovered alcoholic. a diabetic. a hospitable man.

the man who gives his grandchildren everything they need. who will do anything for me. who will take me to New York, and make sure I am in the perfect care. who would take me around the world, and fulfill all my dreams if he could. who will never let a boy come near me who is not perfect.

this man is dying.

that is what he told me.

the diabetes are killing him.

pneumonia, infection, hallucinations.

the diabetes have worn down his body, and he can't handle it.

i remember when i was a small child, i would stay at his house. one night we were joking around, and a tapped him in his gut, but i didn't realize my strength, and it hurt him. i saw pain in his face. i went running upstairs and hid myself in my room, in tears. how could i hurt him? such a strong person? someone i loved so much?

after a few minutes of guilt and regret, and a pillow covered in tears, there was a knock on the door. he came in and held me, and gave me a frozen candy bar. the candy bar that he would have eaten when his blood sugar got low, but instead gave it to me. then we sat on the bed, and he held me until the tears stopped, and the candy bar was gone.

i remember this summer, when i would go through all his old photos from high school, and his soccer years, his children that i never met. he would answer my never ending questions about his life. i wanted to know everything. who is this man that i love? and he never got tired of telling me and teaching me, at least he never showed it.

this man deserves no more pain.

this man whom i call Gramps.

this man who is not related to me by blood.

this man who loves me so much.

this man

i love.