Damn, that’s a good opening line, so much intrigue, so much wonder. Yep, had me hooked from the very beginning. In terms of storytelling, this is so very well put together. You have strong lines that keep the reader hooked like this all the way through. You establish characters, and bring them depth in so few words, it is brilliant. The mention of getting sparklers with grandma when she was alive. It tells so very much, and provides such a brilliant space for projection. You seriously have the lines, like this one

This was the worst thing I could imagine and I wasn't imagining it.

It lightens it whilst bringing depth to both the story and the character so wonderfully. I really adore that you keep this tone throughout, the dark humour, just love it. This is very well written, and the grit you bring all the way through is so enjoyable, but then the story! The fact you have chosen one person in this world who has no desire to see into the future, and instead chooses to let it be a surprise, is brilliant enough. The way this plays out for him, the slow topple of one event after another, each progressively being a thing he probably would have chosen to avoid if he knew it was coming, right up until the end is so very fitting. The ending being a beginning, and the way it feels as though it ends in well, endless possibility, feels so appropriate for a story about leaving possibilities as just that. Masterful! <3