Chapter 11
The press conference room was dead silent.
Grayden stood on stage, frozen like something was stuck in his throat. His fingers trembled, and his face was pale as a paper.
Below the stage, the audience murmured. A few phones were raised to take pictures, but no one laughed.”
California’s newest box office king, the hottest rising star Grayden–he suddenly broke down like a child sobbing uncontrollably in front of the cameras.}
He bent over, biting his knuckles like he was trying to hold it in. But the cries just burst out of him, one after another like the whole sky had collapsed.”
The tablet on the stand was still playing a video.}
It was the last little bit of vlog I left behind.
I was in an oversized hospital gown, leaning against the bed, my hair clinging to my face, and my skin ghost–white. But I smiled just like I used to when we talked.
I recorded it secretly before my surgery.
“Grayden… I know you’ve been keeping an eye on me.
“You still check my Insta, my Facebook Messenger, my Telegram… You’re just like when we were kids. Awkward. Stubborn. Quietly caring.
“I saw your car parked downstairs of my building. Stayed there the whole night.”
“I didn’t come down. But I watched you. As long as you stayed, I stayed watching.
“These clips… I filmed them just for myself, honestly.”
tilte
tilted my head and coughed a little, fingers playing with my hospital ID tag.}
My eyes shimmered with tears as I continued to talk.
“But I thought about it… and I want you to see one.
“Grayden, I just wanna clear something up. I know I’m gone by the time you’re watching this… but I still think it matters.
“I didn’t run off with someone else. And I didn’t leave you for money.”
“I… I got sick.“@
I looked down at the bruises and needle marks on my arm, and my voice came hoarse.}]
“I was diagnosed with ALS. It would’ve cost so much–more than we could ever afford back then.}
“That’s why I left.”
I smiled at the camera again.}
“What year is it now? How long did Chantal take to cut this all together?”
“Do you have someone new? Is she pretty? Does she… Does she like your mom’s pumpkin soup too?“}
My voice was soft, but every word carried across the room.
“Grayden, I’m not imagining things. I know you loved me and still love me.
“You’ve never been good at hiding it. Your eyes always gave you away–even when you told me never to show up again, even when you acted cold. Your puppy eyes were always begging, ‘Stay, Shirl. Please stay.”
“But I didn’t. I’m sorry.
“So now, I need to tell you-“}
I looked up. My eyes were clear and gentle–like the old me standing on our tiny balcony, telling him, “The world will know someday. Just wait.”}
“I’m leaving.
“Don’t be too sad. Don’t look back. Keep going, okay?”
“I was just a tiny part of your story. You still have a long, long way to go.
“Grayden… goodbye. Really, goodbye.”}
The final frame paused on me looking out the window. The light was warm like spring.
But I was already gone.
And the room was still. Like death.
Grayden collapsed to his knees on stage, burying his face in his hands, crying like his heart was being torn apart.
He tried to speak, but no words came out.
His manager, eyes red, whispered from the crowd, “Gray, stop crying… You just proposed…”
But Grayden didn’t hear a thing. He just kept shaking his head over and over like a boy who’d lost his way.”
He climbed up with all his strength, holding the tablet like he was holding me. Like he was holding the last trace of me.” The tablet screen lit up. My frozen smile still stared at him as if saying, ‘It’s okay, Grayden.“}]
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