When Ruby’s daughter, Cindy, claims that her grandmother always has a ‘friend’ around, Ruby assumes it’s someone she knows. But Cindy mentions the ‘friend’ is named William — the exact name of Ruby’s father, who passed away.

My family has always been close-knit. As an only child, I grew up extremely close to my parents. They attended every field hockey game and parent meeting, and when I went to college, they visited often. But when my father passed away, everything changed.

Now, I have my own family — a husband and a six-year-old daughter named Cindy. My mom, once vibrant, became a shadow of herself after my father’s death. She often spends time with Cindy, but recently, Cindy has been crying and avoiding her.

When I asked Cindy why, she said it was because of Grandma’s friend, William. I was shocked — William was my father’s name. When I confronted my mom, she admitted to still feeling and talking to my father as a coping mechanism.

We decided it was best for her to explain this to Cindy and seek therapy. Since then, my mom has improved, and our family is on the path to healing.