Smile

Chapter 3: Tears

          The day had finally come, the worst had finally happened. My father was sick. His depression had not only affected him mentally, but also physically. He had starved himself, and would always stay in all day. He had gotten himself fired from his job, because in the real world, your feelings don't matter. All that matters is if you get your job done.
          There he was, on his death bed, quite literally. I wasn't ready for this. This was the last bit of my hope in my life, and it would soon be gone. And this time, I couldn't smile.
          Tears soaked my face, as I gripped the sides of his bed, not wanting him to go away.
          "What are you doing? Don't go dad! Don't leave me alone you jerk!" I yelled at him, my anger trying to distinguish my sadness. But the sadness was too overpowering. I wept by his bed as he mustered the strength to smile. He put a hand on my face.
          "Where's that beautiful smile your mom gave you? Let me see it one last time,"
          "I'm sorry dad, not this time," I said. I couldn't smile, I just couldn't. The ever smiling child couldn't smile?
          "Don't make such an ugly face, you're going to make me sad,"
          "This time, I can't smile dad, I just can't!"
          "Child, smile, even if you are sad. Make the others around you happy, so they wont have to suffer the way you do. Smile away your problems and sadness. Smile. Just smile," he said, giving me a sad smile. I had to be strong, just like him.
          "Okay," I said, wiping away my tears.
          "That's my girl," he said, and fell asleep with a smile, filled with pure happiness.