Misprinted Lies (Alice in Chains/Bruno Mars)

Treasured Days

Lily was so weak physically, but on the inside, she was an ox. She was a fuckin' warrior. She had another setback though. When the infection left her legs, it hit her arms and she lost feeling in them for a couple of days.

Lily sat on the edge of the bed. She began to shiver and get goosebumps.

"Cold?"

"Yeah. Little bit."

I went over to her bag and pulled out her Metallica hoodie.

She just smiled. "I think I'm gonna need your help putting it on."

Finally, she wanted my help, and she asked for it. I was more than happy to, even for the small stuff.

I grabbed one arm, pulling it through the sleeve and then did the same with the other. I held onto her hands, massaged them and kissed them.

"I wish I could feel my hands right now," she smirked.

"How 'bout I do this?" I asked, gliding my hands through her hair, kissing her.

She just beamed back at me.

Lily beat the rest of the infection the next day. The next step was another medication. It wasn't a pill though; it was a needle called Humira. I'd seen commercials for it, and the long list of side effects was terrifying at first, until I realized those side effects were part of her normal day anyway.

We went through a consultation with nurses so they could go through the procedure. Lily was cracking jokes. I loved how she always could have me cracking up and laughing without my even knowing. I left with Jerry to get a snack.

"She's so funny," I said to him.

"I know," Jerry replied.

"How does she even do that? I mean, she's in the hospital and she's making us all laugh."

Jerry smiled. "Her dad... Layne was like that too. People know the dark stuff from our music and the tabloids, but really he had a great sense of humor."

I sat next to Lily on the couch as Jerry sat in the recliner after putting the DVD in. The tapes she'd shown me were all converted. I couldn't tell if he was happy I was in there too. I wanted to cuddle with her but with Jerry staring at us, it would have felt weird. Things were better, but I still couldn't read his emotions.

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"Daddy!" Lily's little voice screamed over the sound of seagulls.

"What is it honey?" his voice asked, as the camera pointed to his legs that were walking toward her. The sound of the ocean waves crashing got louder.

"I made a castle," she said proudly. Layne pointed the camera at the sandcastle and then at her bright smiling face.

"Princess that looks amazing!" he said with a high voice. "Are you gonna live in it?"

"Yes!" The sun was in her eyes, making her squint. "It's going to have a pool and a lot of windows and a moat. You can live in it too. With me!"

"Why don't we go into the water?"

"Okay!" she yelled excitedly.

Layne took her hand; it was so small. She had so many bruises. They walked into the wet sand and stood there, waiting for the water to come back. She jumped in place with anticipation.

"Daddy," she said, trying to pull him back toward the shore with her as the water got closer.

"It's okay, sweetie. You can do it. You'll be okay."