I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF MY GRANDMOTHER'S BEDROOM.

I TOLD HER THAT I WAS GOING TO LEAVE BECAUSE THE BED WAS COLD.

I ASKED IF SHE HAD ANY EXTRA BLANKETS.

SHE TOLD ME TO TAKE THE BEDSPREAD OFF MY GRANDFATHER'S BED.

I SAID THAT I SHOULDN'T BECAUSE MY GRANDFATHER WOULD GET COLD.

I SAID THAT, IF SHE NEEDED THREE BLANKETS, THEN HE NEEDED ONE.

BESIDES, I SAID, I'D GET MY GRANDFATHER'S BEDSPREAD WHEN HE DIED.

MY GRANDMOTHER HANDED ME A BLANKET THAT SHE WASN'T USING.

IT WAS AN OLD QUILT WITH LOOSE PATCHES.

I REMEMBER THINKING THAT IT WAS THE QUILT SHE DIED WITH.

I WRAPPED MYSELF IN IT.

ON MY WAY OUT OF THE BEDROOM, I STARTED TO CRY.

I GRABBED MY GRANDMOTHER AND HELD HER TIGHT.

I REMEMBER LOOKING OUT HER DININGROOM WINDOW AND SEEING LIGHTS IN THE NEIGHBORS' WINDOWS.

I COULD SEE PLANTS IN THE WINDOWS.

"I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE,," I SAID.