Fake Smiles

#24: I Found Her!

Grayson was lying in on the floor in the middle of his room in the therapist building. He was all alone. He told Ethan and his therapist to leave him alone for a while. He was staring at the ceiling; just like Lily did. He couldn't get Lily out of his mind: the way she talks; the way she smiles; the way she cries; the way she tries to make everyone happy; the way she always puts others before her; the way she surprises him with gifts or kisses. 

He misses her. He misses the conversations they had. He misses the crazy theories she randomly thought of. He misses her laugh. He misses her smile. He misses her voice. He misses her hugs. He misses her kisses. He misses everything about her. He misses her.

***

Lily was finally allowed to leave the hospital. Unfortunately, she had to carry an oxygen tank wherever she went.  When she got home, she went straight to her room and watched a video of the Dolan Twins. Seeing them made her smile. Hearing their voices gave her hope. Hearing their laughs melted her heart.

She lay in bed, thinking of all the things that seem impossible to do now that she has lung cancer. A tear rolled down her cheek and fell on her pillow. She was too exhausted to wipe it away. She closed her eyes and fell asleep, hoping she would wake up in Grayson's arms.

***

It's been a month since Lily had left her room. She didn't want to go out into a world where she couldn't do most activities she loves to do. She had been spending her time watching the twins on Vine and YouTube. She was in love with their positivity! She loved how happy they were! She loved them... if only they knew she existed.

***

Grayson hasn't left the apartment for a month. The only time he would leave was for his appointments with his therapist. He had been struggling without Lily. He had been searching on all forms of Social Media, but found nothing. It broke his heart that he couldn't find her. He had one question he kept asking himself: Does she remember me?

The twins has just finished filming another video. As soon as the camera was turned off, Grayson's fake smile vanished. He sighed as he stared at nothing. He felt someone sit by him. He  turned to see a worried Ethan. He forced a smile to show everything was okay, but Ethan knew Grayson's world was falling apart without Lily.

"You need to take your mind off things!" Ethan said. "You can't just mope around the apartment forever! Lily wouldn't want that! She would want you to go out there and enjoy life! How are you going to find her if you're locked up in here?!"

Grayson sighed in defeat. "Alright! Where are we going?"

***

Lily was watching the "Speed Eating Challenge" when she was disturbed by her mom. Pausing the video, she stared at her mom for an explanation. Her mom sat on her bed and faced her. She was holding a leaflet in her hand. "Lily? I hate to see you like this! You need to go out with your friends! Or make new friends! You can't stay in your room forever".

Her mom paused. Handing Lily the leaflet, she said, "Your father and I thought it would be good for you to go to this meeting. It's with people like you. Most of them are in the same situation as you. They might be able to relate to you. They might be able to help you. I know you feel like it's useless being here. But there is a reason for everything! You are here for a reason! Whether that's to have cancer and show everyone you're stronger. Or if it's to find love and make others happy. You are here for a reason!"

Lily looked down a the leaflet. She saw a picture of a church with a small group of people outside. They were all smiling for the camera. Lily smiled at her mom. "When can I go?"

***

Ethan and Grayson were walking through the streets of California. They had been meeting fans as they walked. And every time fans spoke to them, Grayson would wear fake smiles. But those smiles disappeared when they walked away.

They were walking past a church when Grayson noticed something - more like someone! He slowed down and watched as the person got out the car. Their smile as beautiful as ever! He watched them walk into the church.

He stopped walking. He stopped to watch the person walk down the hall of the church, until they were out of his sight. He stared at the church doorway where the person had once been. He couldn't believe it. He found her!

"Hey, is everything okay?" Ethan asked. Grayson smiled at his brother; a true, happy smile.

"Never been better!" He replied. Ethan was confused, but decided to let it slide. They began to walk around. Ethan would glance at Grayson every few minutes, to see if he was faking a smile. But the smile hadn't disappeared. Grayson was happy.

They walked to the therapist to speak to Sandra. The three of them went into Grayson's room. He sat on his bed and smiled at them. "I found her!" He stated. The room was silent. Ethan and Sandra were shocked. Grayson's smile widened.