The first entry was dated just a few months after my parents’ accident. My grandfather had written about how he had promised them, in their final moments, to protect me at all costs. His love for me was boundless, but the real shock came when I read further.

He had been hiding the truth from me all these years. My parents’ death was no accident. It had been orchestrated by someone close to the family. He had known, but he had kept it from me, wanting to shield me from the pain. His heart-wrenching struggle to protect me from the truth was the reason he forbade me from touching the mattress – it was his way of keeping the painful secret locked away.

As the weight of this revelation sank in, tears welled in my eyes. Grandpa had sacrificed his own peace to preserve mine.

The lesson? Sometimes, those who love us the most carry unbearable burdens in silence. We may never fully understand the lengths they go to for our happiness, but we should cherish every moment with them, knowing that love often means protecting others from the harshest truths.