Fake Smiles

#38: Bed Rest

They spent a few hours in the waiting room until...

A doctor came to them. The three of them - Grayson and the Lovegoods - jumped up at the mention of Lily's name. "She's fine. She had a problem with her oxygen tank. She is currently sleeping, but you can see her now. When she wakes up, make sure she's resting. Don't let her do anything that may be tiring. She needs rest".

The three of them followed the doctor to Lily's room. They saw her sleeping in the hospital bed with an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. The Lovegoods sat on either side of her bed. Mrs Lovegood held her hand as she sadly smiled at her daughter.

Grayson slowly made his way to the chair by the window. He sat down and placed his head in his hands. "This is my fault. I should have walked her home. She shouldn't have stayed over. This is because of me. I am the worst person alive" he muttered to himself.

A few hours past and Lily finally woke up. She noticed she was in a hospital room. The door opened and her parents walked in. Lily smiled as they sat beside her. "Where's Gray?" Lily asked.

Her parents smiled at her. Her mom pointed to a chair by the window where Grayson was sleeping. "He hasn't left". Lily smiled as she could hear the faint snores of her cute sleeping boyfriend. "We did tell him to go home and rest, but he said he didn't want to leave you".

"How long was I asleep?"

"A couple hours" her dad replied. "You were rushed to the hospital at 3am. Grayson called us and we came as quick as we could. He was in the waiting room when we got here. He said you were getting treated. He was on the verge of tears, Lily. It broke his heart seeing you like this".

"He kept blaming himself for what happened" her mom added. "He apologised and said it was his fault. He thought that, if you hadn't have slept over, you wouldn't be in here. He really loves you".

"Do you think I should break up with him?" Lily asked. Her parents looked at her in shock and confusion. "I'm dying. If it hurts him seeing me being rushed in the hospital, what will it do when I die? It's best if I break up with him. If we break up, it will ease the pain when I'm gone".

"Lily," her dad began. "This boy adores you! It doesn't matter if you break up with him, or let him feel the pain when you're gone, because it will crush him either way. If you break up with him, it's like he's already lost you. Don't cause him any more pain. It hurts to see the one you love in pain, and that's how he feels when he looks at you. He knows you're hurting - mentally and physically - but he wants to spent every minute with you. I'm not telling you that you shouldn't break up with him. I think you should think about the pain it will cause him".

Lily sighed as she closed her eyes. A small tear rolled down her cheek. "I don't want to hurt him" she admitted. "But how am I going to stop the pain when I'm dying?! It's impossible! I'm going to hurt him; I have no control over that".

"Pain is required in life" her mom said. "You cannot prevent pain. But you can prepare for it. You need to spent as much time with him as possible, before it's too late. He loves you. You both deserve to be happy. You make each other happy. I know for a fact that you are going to beat cancer. I know it!"

Lily smiled at her parents. She then looked over at Grayson - still sleeping in the chair. "I can't cause him pain. It'll kill me". She paused. "I guess I'll have to love him. Hopefully, I will be able to ease the pain".

A few seconds later, a doctor came in. "You are free to go whenever you want, but you need bed rest. Only for a couple days. A week, maximum". That was all he said before he left. Lily turned to her parents.

"Bed rest?!"

Her parents smiled at her. "We'll go get you some clothes and then you can come home". Her parents left the room. Lily sighed as she looked around a room she was all too familiar with. She was lost in thought when she heard a familiar sound.

"Morning, beautiful" a raspy voice called out. Lily turned to the chair by the window to see Grayson walking towards her. "How are you feeling? Any better? Do I need to get you anything? Water?"

Lily smiled at him. "Can you get me cuddles?" She asked. Grayson chuckled as he climbed into her bed and wrapped him arms around her. "My mom and dad said you haven't left the room". She looked up at Grayson.

"I didn't want to leave you" he replied. "I was scared. I want to be with you through everything! I didn't want you to be alone". Lily smiled as she kissed him gently. "What did the doctors say?"

"They said I can go home!" Lily replied. "They told me I can continue doing what I usually do!"

"Don't you need to rest?!" Grayson questioned. "After everything that happened? Don't you think you should rest? At least for a day? What if something bad happens again?"

"Well, the doctor said I don't need to rest".

"Why are you telling lies?" Lily turned to the door to see the doctor. Grayson was confused. "I think you may have miss heard me. I said you need bed rest for a couple days, maybe a week". Grayson smiled at the doctor and then faced Lily.

"I guess you're grounded to your bed".