At 17, I experienced one of the most painful moments of my life: the loss of my grandpa. That day is still etched in my memory.

I had just come home from school when my mother—who usually worked night shifts and rarely had time for long conversations—called me and my two sisters together for an unexpected family talk. She took a deep breath, and I immediately knew something was wrong.

My grandpa had passed away at 82. Thankfully, he didn’t suffer. He remained active and deeply immersed in his passion for vintage cars until the end.

He used to take me to car shows, which sparked my own love for engines. His influence ran deep and eventually led me to pursue a career in engineering. Though he couldn’t afford a full collection like some of his friends, he had one vintage car he cherished and cared for meticulously.

Every weekend, I’d visit to help him work on it—those were some of my favorite memories. Whether I spilled oil or he accidentally scratched the red paint on his beloved Chevy Bel Air, our time together was always filled with laughter. He even filled the ashtray with candy for me, saying I should stick to sweets instead of ever picking up smoking. Every Saturday, I’d hop into the car, grab some candy from the ashtray, and lend him a hand with whatever needed fixing.

When my mother broke the news that he was gone, I was devastated. He wasn’t just my grandfather—he was my closest friend. I ran to my room and stayed there the rest of the day, overwhelmed by grief.