Just Stop For A Minute And Smile Novels & Stories

a pause, the specific and warm quality of a woman feeling the approach of a laugh she had not been expecting "—she started laughing and she couldn't stop for about three minutes, and every time she nearly stopped she would look at me and say but the goat, Lena, the goat just— and she couldn't finish the sentence." I watched her. The specific and particular thing happening in her face — the particular and private quality of a real memory finding its way to the surface, the specific and unmanaged quality of a woman smiling at something she was not performing. She was smiling. The specific and real quality of it. "She sounds like someone who found things worth finding," I said.

Min a gentle, reassuring smile. "He'll be okay, let me go treat his wounds for now," I told Mr. Min who sighed with a smile and stepped closer to me. The distance between us was the minimum it had ever been and I awkwardly smiled up at him, not knowing what else to do before he yanked my hand and gently kissed my forehead.

” I bit out. She tilted her head to the side and searched my face. ”You’ve gone through more than anyone I've known and you’re still here. You might feel broken and beat, lifeless even, but you’re here. You got up and you got out of the room. But I don't want you to ever fake your smile because if you do, it might never turn real. It is better for you to frown, cry, or just stare than to fake a smile. Seeing your smile should be a gift.”

I watch her through the large mirror for a moment before I speak. “How do you do it?” I ask quietly, my voice cutting through the silence. “Hold yourself together and play… this part without losing your mind?” She pauses, just for a fraction of a second, before meeting my gaze in the mirror. Then she smiles. It is a beautiful smile. Perfect one. “I smile,” she says simply. “I will myself to believe that I am happy. Even when it feels like I cannot take it anymore, I still smile.” There is no hesitation in her voice and no crack to give anything away. It is almost unsettling how convincing it is.

I feel like it will tear from smiling. She laughed. "Just smile slowly. You're a G," she teased. I pouted. "Of course, I have to smile. I have to be approachable in the eyes of the customer especially since I am the one who opens up to them," I reasoned. She laughed. "You're such a good worker, ah. Keep it up." I rolled my eyes. "Shut up, girl. It's draining my energy." "Take it easy. Rest at least once in a while."

he continued walking away. "Oh!," he stopped turning back to me," Don't forget to smile. Remember you must look very happy." His lips twitched into a mockery smile . I just nodded like the puppet I am.

“Now go home, practice your innocent smile in the mirror, and don’t die before Saturday. Oh, and take a breath. You sound like you’re about to combust.” I laughed, picturing myself in front of the mirror practicing smiles like a lunatic. “Okay. I’ll call you after I plan my ‘kindness’ strategy.”

she squeals, as if I've just offered her all the wealth in the world. I'm unable to hold back my smile. "Really," I say. Her answering smile is so bright, it could have lighted up a whole room. I have to remind myself not to stare like a lovesick sheep. "Then," she says, "let's stop at the fountain from last time." ……

Aphrodite said. I smile at her. “Thank you for your understanding. Uhh, but I am not ready to open it up for now. Sorry” I said. I know that the first step to gaining friends is to share some of your pieces of information with her so that both of you know how each other. But, As I’ve said, I am not yet ready to open up about my past. It was too dark for me to open it up. “Oh, it’s fine. You don’t have to say sorry. I understand. What’s important is, that I met you. I finally have a friend” she said happily.

I was curious and confused. “Shut people out. Sometimes you act too strongly with your blank stare, you seem almost unmoved, and other times you smile at the simplest thing but stop almost like you don't want to be caught doing it… Maybe I am wrong but I think it's beautiful when you allow yourself to care a little more than you let on, you are beautiful and it wouldn't hurt that bad”