Far away, and yet so close.

The picture catches my eye, and I stop in my tracks, turning to face the image that I hold so dear. The casual snapshot of my grandfather, taken in what appears to be an electronics or photography store, is worth more to me than words can describe.

He was someone I loved so much, who I hugged countless times, and laughed with to the brink of tears. Someone I very much cared about during the years that I knew him. Now, he has been reduced to a two dimensional image on a shiny rectangle of paper.

I miss him. Nearly five years after his death studying the photograph can still be enough to bring tears to my eyes. It’s a black and white snapshot, though I have come to realize that I barely notice that it is not in the real colours of life. It almost seems appropriate, for in a way it conveys an air of times passed – which is where he lives on, now, in the abyss of our memory and hearts, in the past.

His eyes are averted from the camera, his face bright – smiling at someone who was standing beside him. I sometimes wonder who it was; who merited that kind smile. Was it my grandmother? Was it a friend of his? I guess I’ll never know. He was loved by many, for his personality and kindness made him a man that was easy to feel for, and impossible to forget.

A cigarette fits easily between his fingers, his hand held up, a centimeter of ashes ready to fall off from the tip, frozen forever in the snapshot. My eyes scan his thinned-out hair, and I remember being a kid. I used to sit on his lap and run my hand through it, making it messy. It always made me laugh, and he allowed it for the sake of seeing me smile. Then he’d complain with a grin, and bring up his hands to straighten it out again. Naturally, this was a cycle that repeated itself over and over again, and I know that he never, not for a second, minded that I was there to playfully annoy him.

I realize that I cannot recall his voice; and a wave of grief surges through me as it dawns on me that the sound is lost to me forever. I do not think that we have him on video, or recorded on any audio tape, so it was up to my mind to retain the memory of his voice. When I try to recall, though, all I come across is a void. The dead have a tendency to slip away piece by piece, as though not to desert you too harshly all at once, and I suppose that the sound of his words and laughter were among the first things to fade away.

I cannot wrap my mind around how things work in this world; or where we go when we pass away. I don’t believe in heaven, but I cannot deny that I feel it might be possible for those who have passed on to keep tabs on how those that are still alive are faring. They could be somewhere out there, in a spirit form. Not in the confines of ‘heaven’ or ‘hell’. Everyone is someone’s son, someone’s daughter, maybe someone’s mother, father, sibling, friend, or any other loved one. It would be beautiful if they could somehow be there to see how their loved ones continue going through the ups and downs of life.

Then again, maybe they only live on as long as we keep them that way. I think that as long as we remember them, and allow them to reside in a part of our hearts, they’ll be with us, simply because we keep them close.

This is a really beautiful caption of a moment, I found it very moving and brilliantly written- well done I couldn't find much that could be improved but I will point out what I can!

The picture catches my eye, and I stop in my tracks, turn to face the image that I hold so dear

I think you should either change turn to turning or change the comma to a full stop and put an I in front: 'The picture catches my eye, and I stop in my tracks, turning to face the image I hold so dear.' or 'The picture catches my eye,and I stop in my tracks. I turn to face the image that I hold so dear.'

I miss him, and nearly five years after his death studying the photograph can sometimes be enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I think it might be more effective to have 'I miss him' as one sentence then begin the next with 'Nearly five years'.

It’s a black and white snapshot, and I have come to realize that I barely notice that it is not in the real colours of life.

I'd change the and after the comma to but.

I realize that I cannot recall his voice; and a wave of grief runs through me as it dawns on me that the sound is lost to me forever.

Instead of runs through me I think you could use a better word such as crashes or rushes.

I don’t believe in heaven, but I cannot deny that I feel it might be possible for them to keep tabs on how those that are still alive are faring.

You don't make it clear who you are talking about when you say 'them'. I'd maybe put in 'the dead' or 'those who have passed on'.

Everyone is someone’s son, someone’s daughter, maybe someone’s mother, father, sibling, friend, or other relative.

I don't think 'other relative' is a good way of ending this sentence- maybe 'some one's family' or 'some one's loved one' would work better.

It would be beautiful if they could somehow be there to see how their loved ones continue going through the motions of life.

'through the motions of life' sounds like you're not enjoying life, kind of robotic. Just 'continue with their lives' might work better. If you did replace the previous sentence ending with 'some one's loved one' then you would need to change loved ones here to something like 'those close to them'.

Beautiful ending

Overall comments: I thought this story was very touching, there's not much you need to add at all as I think it works well as it is. Showing the character turning away from the photo might be nice at the end but you don't necessarily need it. I love the general thoughts behind this One thing I noticed with sentences is that quite a few times you would write quite long sentences where it could be more effective to have shorter ones so you might want to look back through that.

Hope I've helped!

You definitely helped ^^

I've made a few little changes as you suggested. Thanks!

Xxx

XxxDo, this is lovely contemplative fiction. I sense it is based on a real person?
I can think of nothing erring in the body of text itself. The subject, the structure, the wording are all perfect. I think that's because it wasn't too sentimental... it was quiet & sensitive.
My nit-picks would be for grammar only.

He was someone I loved so much, who I hugged countless times,

That should be 'whom'

Now, he has been reduced to a two dimensional image on a shiny rectangle of paper.

All perfectly correct here. I would only advise on how it would read better. I don't like that comma after 'now', but this is purely my opinion. I think it's unnecessary. Also, I dislike the 'two dimensional' part... not sure why. Personally, I would change it to: '...a filmy image on a rectangle of paper.'

Nearly five years after his death studying the photograph can still be enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Comma after 'death'

It almost seems appropriate, for in a way it conveys an air of times passed – which is where he lives on, now, in the abyss of our memory and hearts, in the past.

Could you in some way split this into two different sentences? Atm, it comes across as elongated.

When I try to recall, though, all I come across is a void.

Maybe 'But when I try to recall, all I come across is a void.'

Lauren

Thanks for the review, dear ^^

I'll take care of the mistakes.

This piece is the way I feel about my grandfather. It's completely real, I actually have that photograph in my room.

XxxDo

Hey dearest, since you reviewed me, I'll review you!

I. NITPICKS

though I have come to realize that I barely notice that it is not in the real colours of life.

This is kinda awkward.

That was it!

II. DESCRIPTION

I recently wrote a piece (not on YWS) about my grandmother, so I know what this is like. But I'd love to get more of a sense of who he was, and not just snippets of memories. Why was he in a shop while the photo was taken? Did he work there? Also, she can't remember what he sounded like, but does she remember his smell? (I'm guessing it's a she, it might not be...) Did his wife outlive him? I'd just like a little more idea of him...

III. OVERALL

I really liked it. It's quite powerful, in that simple, sweet way. Nice job.

Hope I helped, and PM me if you have any questions!

-Stella x

Hey there ^^

I'm going to review part three of your story, soon, just so you know.

Thanks for the review, m'dear.

The MC is a she, indeed. In fact, I'm the MC.

I'm gonna get editing, now.

XxxDo