He will never be death. Whenever I turn around and need him, Grandpa will be there. But that’s not what the doctors said.
-- Narrator (Chapter 1)

Importance: John sadly reflects on his grandpa’s diagnosis with terminal cancer. John has lived with his grandparents for nine years. They are his world. He cannot imagine a part of his world going missing, but he knows that his grandfather will not always be with them.

And John had nodded, but it had been wrong, too wrong. They always hunted together, they always did everything together.
-- Narrator (Chapter 1)

Importance: The narrator explains how John’s grandpa has decided John will hunt alone this year. This is stunning news to John, who never envisioned doing anything without his grandpa. They have always done everything together. This underscores the heartbreaking truth that his grandpa will not always be around.

He’s going to die.
-- John (Chapter 2)

Importance: While talking to his best friend (Emil...