Stranger Than Fanfiction(80)
Topher turned to the last page of the binder and found the letter he had written the actor the night before their trip.
“And then I invited you to join our road trip and you actually showed up,” he said.
The actor teared up and gently nodded. “I needed to say good-bye,” he said. “You know, in each and every letter you thanked me and gave me the credit for your bravery—but I think it was really you who was inspiring me to be brave all along. In an industry that makes a hobby of ripping celebrities apart, and on a set controlled by people who didn’t care for me very much, knowing I had someone like you to inspire made everything worthwhile. You’ve been my hero as much as I’ve been yours.”
Cash’s words made Topher look at his life in a drastically different light. Everything he had ever been through seemed to have a much deeper meaning than the mediocrity it had before. Topher couldn’t believe he was standing at the deathbed of his childhood hero and being made to feel so significant. It sent a wave of emotions through him that he couldn’t handle in front of the actor.
“I need to find the others,” Topher said. “They were parking the car when I came in and I think they got lost. I’ll be right back.”
He dashed through the halls of the Sunny Skies Care Center and ran through the parking lot like a crazy man. His friends were relieved to finally see him but annoyed it had taken as long as it had.
“About time,” Joey said.
“Yeah, I’m so bored I could die,” Mo said.
“Did you talk to Cash?” Sam asked.
“Yeah.” Topher panted. “And I know you guys don’t want to see him—but you really need to come inside.”
“No way!” Mo said.
“We aren’t changing our minds,” Joey said.
“Topher, can we just get back on the road?” Sam asked. “We’ve got so much ground to cover—”
“CASH IS DYING!” Topher blurted out.
All the emotion he had been suppressing rushed out of him like a waterfall. It wasn’t until he said the words aloud that the reality of the situation hit him. Topher leaned against the station wagon, slid down to the ground, and sobbed. His friends got out of the car and approached him like he was a wounded animal.
“Topher, is this some kind of joke?” Sam asked.
“No,” he blubbered. “Cash has been sick this whole time and we never knew! He’s been putting on a show for us since we met him! He’s not a bad person—he’s got brain cancer! That’s why he’s been behaving the way he has! He cares more about us than we could have ever imagined—and we almost drove home without stopping to see him!”
The others had never seen Topher like this before. They knew he was serious and took the news exactly like he did. It was hard to accept but made a lot of sense the more they thought about it.
“I can’t believe this,” Sam said.
“We need to see him,” Mo said.
“Topher, can you show us to his room?” Joey asked.
Once Topher composed himself, he led his friends into the Sunny Skies Care Center and down the hall to room 828. All it took was one look at the actor and everything Topher had just said was confirmed. Even with a heads-up of what they were walking into, the others couldn’t contain their emotions as well as Topher managed to.
“You don’t have to feel that sorry for me,” Cash said. “I’m on enough morphine to stop a herd of elephants. Things could be worse.”
“Why didn’t you tell us you were sick?” Mo asked.
The actor laughed. “No offense,” he said, “but you aren’t the easiest bunch to break bad news to. By the way, I’m so sorry for spilling all your secrets like I did. Just because I’m dying doesn’t give me the right to be a dick. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
Given the new circumstances, none of them had it in their hearts to hold anything against him. It was like a magic eraser had wiped away all their grudges and hard feelings toward the actor.
“I think I speak for everyone when I say you have our forgiveness in spades,” Joey said. “It pissed us off for a while, but it only brought us closer together. So we really should be thanking you.”
“It’s not like anything you said was a lie,” Topher said. “Unlike the things people have been saying about you. Everyone’s got it all wrong—when are you going to break the news to them?”
“Not until I’m gone,” Cash said with a sly smile. “Which is really a shame because I’d love nothing more than to see the looks on all those asswipes’ faces when they find out they’ve been chastising a guy with cancer. It’s going to be a crow buffet! Enjoy it for me.”
“Why don’t you want to see it for yourself?” Sam asked.
The actor let out a long sigh. “It would just create an even bigger frenzy than there’s already been,” he said. “My life has always been so crazy, so loud, and so busy. For once, I just want everything to be quiet. Besides, when the whole world is tarnishing your name, that’s how you learn who your true friends are. You guys are all I need.”
Mo could barely get the words past her tears. “Is there anything we can do for you?”
She had to ask it even though they all knew there was nothing anyone could do. However, Cash did have a very important request for them and he was grateful he had the opportunity to ask it.