christysteph67
AUTHOR'S NOTE!
(It's important to read this *after* the story, so as to not spoil the ending)
This is a fictional story, but is inspired by real events. My coworker, Ellen, received news that her grandfather who had recently traveled to California on vacation had been intubated shortly after being diagnosed with COVID-19, and is not expected to make it.
She bought a one-way ticket.
At the time of this publishing, Ellen is still in California with her grandfather, away from her home. Unlike Ellen in the fictional story, real Ellen has not met a kind benefactor to pay her way home.
If I win this contest, I will be sharing my prize with Ellen, because without her, I would not have been able to write this story. We miss her terribly.
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I am 24 years old, and residing in the 50 states. Everything in the description is verifiable and true.
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The photo used for the temporary cover does not belong to me, it belongs to the Dallas Morning News.