Renly spoke nothing but the truth; he truly didn't care about the "Thor". In the previous life, Thor's role had always belonged to Chris's hands. Moreover, Renly had long decided to reject the script of "Thor". If Chris had asked, he would have gladly shared the script without any hesitation.
What truly disappointed Renly was Chris himself. He had thought they were friends.
Perhaps not the closest of companions, but at least they should have been ordinary friends. Their time as roommates hadn't been lengthy, yet their interaction had been harmonious. They never had conflicts, cooperated in daily chores, and in many aspects, their relationship transcended mere friendship. One might even say they were slightly more familiar than regular friends. After all, they shared the same roof, pursuing the dream of acting. At the very least, they shouldn't have been strangers.
Despite living two lives, Renly didn't have a wealth of experience in human relations.
In his previous life, he had been consumed by his mother's meticulously planned schedule, to the extent that even bathroom breaks were prearranged. He had no time to make new friends. The latter half of his life had been spent bedridden, with the chance to make friends only with the fellow patient in the next bed, watching them come and go while he remained stagnant.
The concept of friendship wasn't foreign to Renly, but it always carried a sense of novelty. Perhaps, compared to the intensity of love and the purity of family ties, friendship seemed to bear a tinge of politeness and detachment. Yet, friendship was an eternal harbor, accompanying individuals through the various stages of life, from birth to death, maintaining a steady proximity that never wavered.
He had believed he was friends with Chris, but evidently, he had been wrong.
Perhaps, in the world of fame and fortune, friendship was ultimately distinct.
After leaving his home, Renly initially considered finding a quiet corner at the supermarket to sit down, but he soon realized that what he needed now wasn't solitude. Thus, he made his way to Mount Sinai Hospital.
Many people disliked hospitals, and Renly wasn't an exception. However, having grown accustomed to the ebb and flow of life and death in hospitals, he could sense the tranquility that belonged here. For this was a place where miracles were born.
Indeed, lives met their ends here, but it was also a cradle of new beginnings. Yes, hopes were often dashed, yet they also found their genesis here. Compared to darkness, Renly always favored the sunlight within hospitals – faint but warm, capable of reminding individuals of their health, of their escape from the scythe of death, and of the hope to hold onto tomorrow.
As he entered the hospital building, the sounds of playful chatter rushed by. A group of youngsters zoomed past, chattering away, and they headed towards the backyard. "Renly!" "Hey, buddy!" "Handsome!" The children saw Renly, who hadn't yet entered the building, and cheerfully greeted him.
"Catherine! George! Oh, isn't this Stephanie? Eric, you've grown taller!" "Alex, slow down, don't run too fast."
Renly crouched down, raising his hands high above, and as the children passed by, they automatically tapped his palms. Renly could accurately call out each child's name, cheerfully greeting them all. A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. "Hey, who do we have here? A stranger?" Upon seeing new faces, Renly continued to greet them with a smile, his lively tone dancing within the gradually sinking rays of the setting sun.
"Anita? What's going on?" Behind the children, Nurse Chief Anita Tunisia followed the group with small steps. Renly quickly caught up to her and asked.
Anita grabbed Renly's arm, beckoning him to join her. "It's time for a group sing-along. Today, we're going outdoors. Hurry, join us." A radiant smile graced Anita's face. "You arrived at just the right time. We're handing you the guitar. We were just worried – Kelly isn't the best choice."
Renly's steps instinctively followed as he walked over. After hearing the explanation, he pointed in the direction of the elevator. "You all go ahead. I'll head upstairs to visit Hazel first, then I'll join you."
Mount Sinai was a children's hospital where, at intervals, children would be gathered together. Be it for festive occasions, group play, or outdoor activities, the aim was to bring laughter to the children, hoping that the clutches of illness wouldn't deprive them of their childhood.
However, some children couldn't participate in these activities. Apart from those confined to the intensive care unit, there were many like Hazel Cross whose health couldn't permit them. In such cases, with doctors' consent, parents would wheel their children into the group.
Renly was unsure about Hazel's current condition and whether she'd be willing to come downstairs for the activity. Thus, he needed to go upstairs to confirm.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cross came by. They just took Hazel to the backyard." Anita quickly explained. Renly suddenly realized and didn't decline any further. He followed the children's pace, walking outside together.
The sun on the horizon continued to burn fiercely, casting the entire courtyard in a bright orange hue. The joyful laughter of the children wafted through the air, pure and unpretentious, without masks, schemes, or burdens. It was simply, freely, and exuberantly laughter.
Inner melancholy and desolation were instantly cast aside. Renly, with the guitar on his back, joined the children's ranks, thoroughly savoring the present moment, embracing the music and the essence of childhood.
"Renly, "Hey, Soul Sister", come on, let's do "Hey, Soul Sister"." Amidst the cheerful cries from the crowd, looking in the direction of the voice, it was none other than Alex Reich, that little guy. Drenched in sweat, he shouted energetically. His flushed complexion seemed a bit abnormal. A nurse standing nearby walked up and grabbed Alex's arm. "Young man, you can't get this excited."
Renly gestured to Alex by lifting his chin. "Buddy, who's the girl you want to confess to? Tell me, I'll help you out."
"Hey, Soul Sister" was the main single from the alternative rock band Train's new album released in the latter half of last year. This song, combining folk and rock styles, conveyed a man's feelings as he confesses his love to a girl he adores. When it was first released, the single garnered modest attention. However, after more than half a year of promotion, it gained widespread popularity, steadily climbing the Billboard charts. Just last week, it reached an incredible third place, setting a new record.
It could be said that this song had recently become one of the hottest singles on major radio stations. Despite Alex's young age, it was evident that he was no stranger to the airwaves.
The jest elicited laughter from the children. However, Alex was far from restrained. His voice resonated loudly as he proclaimed, "Kelly, I want to confess to Kelly!"
Kelly Patton, a nurse who joined the hospital this year, was a mere twenty-four years old. Originally, she was supposed to play the guitar for today's group sing-along, but with Renly's arrival, the guitar duty changed hands. Kelly now looked after the children as they sang.
Upon hearing such a high-profile confession, Kelly wrinkled her nose at Alex. She seemed to be expressing her dissatisfaction, yet before she could say anything, the sound of guitar strings filled the air. Renly strummed the strings, singing out in a strong voice, "Hey... Hey, hey, hey..." All the children joined in, singing at the top of their lungs in perfect harmony with the catchy melody. Kelly looked at Renly helplessly.
Renly shrugged his shoulders, a radiant smile on his face. Turning back to greet the children, they followed him like a train, forming a long line. With his guitar, Renly strummed and walked around Kelly, who was soon enveloped by the children. Alex caught up, trailing beside Renly, his head held high, belting out the lyrics with gusto. "Hey, soul sister, ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo? The way you move ain't fair, you know."
The atmosphere was festive and vibrant.
Watching everyone's exuberant antics, Kelly eventually gave in. She approached Alex and extended an invitation, and the two of them began to dance in the center. The white uniform of the nurse gently fluttered, and Alex's rosy face displayed the happiest smile in the world.
Now, the children were even more excited. They clapped and tapped the rhythm, singing themselves hoarse. The song began to go off-key, like a warped vinyl record roasted under the sun. The distorted tones echoed beneath the sunlight. Renly paid no mind, his smile matching the children's dance steps, his body naturally keeping the beat as he joined their dance.
"Alright, alright, today's activity should be over." After the song "Hey, Soul Sister" concluded, despite her reluctance, Anita stepped forward to interrupt the revelry. "Let's give a round of applause for Kelly and Alex!"
Renly was the first to raise his hands high and cheer. The other children followed suit, loudly applauding. "Oh yeah!"
Alex turned his gaze back, and Renly's eyes flickered slightly. He subtly nodded in affirmation. Then, he saw Alex execute a noble knight's gesture, expressing his respect.
Kelly opened her mouth in surprise, but couldn't help but chuckle softly. She then lifted her uniform skirt slightly and took a step back with a polite knee bend in return.
A collective cheer erupted. Alex finally felt shy and rushed over to Renly. Renly crouched down, extending his right hand. Alex jumped up and forcefully slapped Renly's right palm, then let out an excited shriek, running towards the hospital building for patients.
Straightening his body again, Renly wiped the sweat off his forehead. The thirty-minute group sing-along had drained more energy than Village Vanguard's sixty-minute performance. A light breeze blew by, instantly cooling things down. Then, Renly's gaze caught a kite in the sky. Beneath the bright sky, it soared freely, swooshing and trailing its long tail, embracing the wild wind.
It was a butterfly kite – the one Renly had left in Hazel's hospital room.