Summary

The short story “Field of Tears” by Declan J Connaughton begins with a woman named Rita visiting her grandfather in a nursing home. After a tense exchange with the nurse at the reception desk, Rita goes to see her grandfather. As she walks towards him, she thinks about how old and fragile he is, which reminds her of her own mortality and the imminent death of her parents. Rita is aware that, at the age of 98, her grandfather does not have much time left, so she values the moments they spend together. 

Rita’s grandfather is in a wheelchair and dressed in his good suit. He tells his granddaughter that he wanted to dress smart that day, especially for her. Rita pushes the wheelchair into the parking lot and helps her grandfather inside the car. Before Rita starts the car, her grandfather tells her that he was stationed in that village during the Irish Civil War...