8.

                                    

                                          
JIMIN POV 
Jimin was smiling as he turned the key to unlock the door to Pop's big, old house.
He'd been smiling ever since 
he left Jungkook's place. 
Actually, ever since before he even got to Jungkook's place.
Smiling was starting to become his default expression and he was... well... happy about it. 
He wasn't sure whether it was being around Jungkook or Pop
or just being back to town, probably all of the above but
it was such a contrast to the 
way he normally felt these 
days that it really was like 
living someone else's life while he was away from New York.
Someone who wasn't 
stressed all the time. 
Someone who wasn't trying 
to do everything alone. 
Someone who had a family 
and a home and Jungkook.
It was a support network that 
he hadn't realized he'd been lacking in New York until he started to compare the two places.
Jimin looked around as he stepped inside the house. 
God, why was it always so 
dark in this front room? 
Sure, it was just past eight at night but the summer sun had just set, leaving beautiful 
orange and purple streaks 
across the sky.
You'd never know it from the sitting room in Pop's house, though.
It might as well be midnight.
He moved through the dark 
room to the hallway that led 
back to the kitchen and living room, where Pop spent most 
of his time indoors.
The first thing he noticed was that the lights were off in this part of the house too.
The second thing he noticed 
was that the door to the back yard was standing wide open.
Pop didn't leave doors open. 
Not at night. 
Not with the air conditioner 
still running. Not ever.
"Pop?" Jimin called but he was already moving quickly to the back door, not even bothering 
to check the bedroom. 
"Pop, are you out here?"
He opened the door and his 
heart jumped into his throat when he saw Pop slumped 
in a chair on the porch. 
Jimin rushed over but even as 
he bent down to reach for the older man, he could see the 
faint rise and fall of his chest.
"Oh, thank God." He said out loud, hesitating for a moment with his hand outstretched.
If Pop was just sleeping out 
here, Jimin didn't want to 
startle him. 
But if he was just sleeping, why had he left the door open? 
That still didn't make sense.
"Pop?" Jimin called quietly, crouching down to eye level 
as he gently tapped his grandpa's shoulder. 
"Pop, wake up."
"It's time to go inside."
He didn't stir at all.
Jimin touched Pop's arm this time, gently shaking him. 
"Pop." he said louder, then backed off a little as his 
eyelids fluttered. 
"Pop, wake up."
"I'm home now."
"Jimin?" Pop's voice sounded weak and his eyes were just barely open.