Chapter 1
Jenny was sitting on the floor of the bedroom with her eyes closed. She was close to tears, but still she was smiling. There was no reason not to smile. Life has been kind, it gave her what a lot of people dream about but never get. She was given true love. And it wasn't just a beautiful phrase.
People usually say how much they love each other, they tell each other that they can't live without the other, they promise to be together forever... Nick never told her that he loved her. He never promised her that they would be together until death separates them. But his caring arms were always there when she needed them so much. He believed in her, even when her parents said she wouldn't be able to get that job. He encouraged her to start a new project, he was her inspiration afterwards. He never lied to her. When her friends told that she looked fantastic in a new dress, he was the only one to tell her that it didn't suit her at all. Nick was there when Jenny's father died. He didn't say he was sorry like the others, instead he sat there beside her, wiping away the tears from her face.
As long as Jenny could remember, Nick was always near. When she was with her friends, when she was alone, when she was happy, when she was sad, when she was ill... He was always there. And he was always smiling.
Once she asked him why he was smiling. He began explaining. The last phrase that he told her that day, Jenny still remembers. He said that people should always smile, even when it hurts. That way you will be able to survive and deal with your problems.
She didn't understand his words then. How can you smile when there is nothing to be happy about?! And he told her that one day she would understand. And she did.
Nick left her last week. No, he didn't fall in love with another girl, he didn't move to another country. He was gone. Gone. With no way of getting back. No more reassuring words, no more Saturday movies, no more hugs and no more of his love and friendship. Can people be friends and love each other? Yes. Jenny was sure that they can. She still thinks that a person only can love his true friend. And to those who say she doesn't know what true love means, she can answer that they don't know what true friendship is.
Finally Jenny opened her eyes and let the tears fall. But she didn't stop smiling. Because you should always smile, even when it hurts.
