Fake Smiles

#42: Chemo-Therapy

One month. It's been a month since the twins had left. Lily had become depressed. She would text and call Grayson every day, hoping he would be able to answer. She wouldn't leave her room unless it was to get food or water. She had been to the hospital for check ups. And they have decided to start chemo-therapy.

She went to the hospital with her parents for her appointment. She sat in the waiting room until her name was called. She was reading a leaflet about chemo-therapy. She was reading about treatment after chemo-therapy; such as a therapist to speak to, or a group of other people who have been through a similar thing.

It was finally her turn. She entered the doctor's office and followed the rules. She spent five hours at the hospital. She had to stay over night because her energy was so low. She was brushing her hair, getting ready for bed, when a chunk of hair fell out. She gripped the hair in her hand and cried. It was just like her dream. Except she didn't have Grayson to make her feel better. She lay in bed and cried herself to sleep.

The next day, the same thing happened. But more hair fell out. She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled more chunks out. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was thinning out. Tears threatened to fall.

Doctors entered the room to take her to another appointment. She followed and began a second session of chemo-therapy. And every time, more hair would fall. Eventually, she had it shaved. She wore hoodies to hide herself.

After spending three days in the hospital, she finally went home. She locked herself in her room and cried herself to sleep every night. She would ignore texts and calls from Ethan and Alisha - even Grayson! She didn't want to talk to anyone.

She was sleeping when she found it hard to breath. She sat up and gasped for air. Her parents ran into the room and rushed her to the hospital. Lily was rushed to an emergency room. She was in there all night. Her parents were in the waiting room.

***

Grayson was lying in bed, texting Lily. But she wasn't replying, not even looking at them. He was confused so he called her: voicemail. He sighed as he put his phone away and went to sleep. But he couldn't stop himself from worrying about Lily.

***

Alisha had been trying to text Lily, but she wasn't replying to any of her texts. She didn't know what was going on, so she called her: voicemail. She left a small message telling Lily to phone her back as soon as she hears the voicemail.

***

Ethan saw how upset Grayson was, so he decided to text Lily himself. But no response. He tried calling her: voicemail. It was like she was ignoring them. Ethan then decided to text Alisha.

Ethan
Hey, do u know y Lily isn't texting back?

Alisha 😍
No, she hasn't even looked at my messages

Ethan
She hasn't answered Gray's, either

Alisha 😍
I'll try to find out what's wrong

Ethan
Ok, bye

Alisha 😍
Bye

***

Lily woke up in a hospital room. She had her oxygen tank next to her. She looked around the room for her parents. They were outside talking to a doctor. Her mom was crying while her dad was trying to calm her down. Eventually, the three of them entered the room.

The minute her mom saw her, she broke down. Tears streamed down her mom's face. "Lily, we ran a few tests" the doctor began. "The results weren't good. We found that the cancer has covered 69.8% of your lungs. We're going to have to try more chemo-therapy sessions. It seems that's the only way to slow the cancer down. We're so sorry".

Lily smiled at them. "Don't be, I'm sure I'll be able to beat it".

Lily spent the week in the hospital. She was always having chemo-therapy sessions every day. She was finally going home. She was so tired, she had to have her dad carry her to the car. When they got home, they saw Alisha in the front yard. Lily walked towards her, pulling her oxygen tank behind her.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Lily asked.

"Why haven't you been answering your phone?" Alisha asked. "I've been trying to call you! And the twins! But you weren't answering! What happened?! We were getting worried. Especially Grayson. You haven't spoken to either of us in over two months. I know the twins left three months ago, but we were getting worried. Where have you been?"

Lily sighed as she looked down at her feet. "I was having chemo-therapy" she replied as she pulled her hood down. Alisha gasped. All of a sudden, she was engulfed in a hug. Lily cried on Alisha's shoulder.

"I am so sorry!" Alisha apologised. "I was being so rude. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I should have been more understanding. I'm such an idiot!" Lily hugged Alisha tight. They hugged for a while before going to Lily's room. They sat on her bed and talked.

"I know you've been in chemo-therapy, but why didn't you answer your phone?"

Lily sighed. "Because I hated the way I looked. Talking to either of you reminds me of how I used to look. I hated how I was losing my hair; how I was letting cancer beat me. I was trying to stay strong, but I was failing. I'm so sorry" Lily cried.

"Why would you think that?!" Alisha exclaimed. "We don't like you for your looks, Lily. We like you for your personality! That's what Grayson fell in love with. He loves everything about you! He loves how you are caring, selfless, sensitive, understanding, loving and honest. He loves everything about you!"

Lily smiled as she looked at her hands. "I guess I was over-reacting". Lily and Alisha spent the night together. It was 2am in LA. It would be 10am in England - that's where the twins are currently at. Alisha took the chance to text Ethan and Grayson while Lily was asleep.

Alisha
Hey

Eth 😍💕
Hey!

Alisha
I found out y Lily wasn't replying

Eth 😍💕
Really?! Y?!

Alisha
She was in chemo-therapy
And she was worried about her looks

Eth 😍💕
Y?

Alisha
She said she hated how she looked

Gray
Is she awake?

Alisha
No, she fell asleep about 10 mins ago

Gray
Ok, I'll text her later

Alisha
I'm gonna sleep

Eth 😍💕
Goodnight

Alisha closed her phone and fell asleep.