Volunteering

The early morning sun cast a soft glow on the bustling entrance of the charity and public hospital, Bellevue Hospital Center as Lucas arrived on a Sunday. He spotted Liza sitting patiently on a public bench, her face etched with quiet concern. A warm smile lit up her features as she caught sight of him, and she gave him a gentle wave.

Their conversation flowed easily as they entered the hospital together. The receptionist, a woman with kind eyes and a familiar smile for Liza, greeted them warmly. As she turned to Lucas, a flicker of confusion crossed her face.

Liza, sensing the shift, quickly stepped in. "He's here to also volunteer visit the patients today with me," she explained.

Understanding dawned on the receptionist's face as she gestured them onwards. Walking down the brightly lit hallway, Lucas couldn't help but be drawn to the sounds of laughter and chatter echoing from a nearby room. Inside, a group of children and teenagers buzzed with activity, some huddled around a colorful board game, others absorbed in their handheld consoles.

Liza's vibrant greeting sent a ripple through the room, turning heads and bringing smiles to faces. A young boy, barely six years old and sporting a bonnet, surprised Lucas by launching himself towards Liza in a joyful embrace. The other children followed suit, showering her with affection, while the teenagers offered shy grins of acknowledgment.

The warmth from the scene washed over Lucas, tinged with amusement as he noticed the teenagers clutching handheld consoles.

As the children and teenagers turned their attention to him, he saw recognition flicker in several eyes. A young boy named Jonathan, barely containing his excitement, blurted out, "Hey, aren't you Dylan?!"

"No way, Jonathan," Nicole, an eight-year-old with bright pigtails, chimed in, shaking her head. "He just looks like him. Dylan wouldn't be here!"

Undeterred, Jonathan marched towards Lucas, his brown eyes shining. "I know it's you, Big Brother Dylan! Come on, chase Big Sister Haley!"

The children swarmed around Lucas, their boisterous energy both infectious and overwhelming. Liza observed the scene with a knowing smile, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Big Sister Haley's a meanie," piped up another boy, James. "She dumped you!"

"Yeah, beg her again to take you back, Big Bro!" Ryan, the little comedian, added with a mischievous grin.

Lucas felt a wave of unexpectedness wash over him. This situation wasn't expected by him at all.

Marian, a lanky teenage girl with a purple streak in her hair, stepped forward. "Guys, leave him alone. 'Modern Family' is just a show. He's not really Dylan."

Jonas, the quiet teenager with headphones perpetually perched around his neck, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he's just the actor who played him."

The younger children, initially resistant, started mumbling amongst themselves. A few, perhaps the more mature ones, seemed to accept this explanation. Seeing their confusion, Lucas couldn't help but grin wryly.

"Don't worry, little ones," he assured them, kneeling down to their level. "Big Brother Dylan and Big Sister Haley will figure things out. Just trust me."

His words sparked a chorus of excited chirps. "Really?" "Yay!" "We get to see Big Brother Dylan again in Modern Family?"

Liza burst into laughter at their enthusiasm, the sound echoing down the hallway. Even the stoic teenagers cracked smiles, unable to resist the children's infectious joy.

Time seemed to melt away as Lucas interacted with the children. Their initial shock and excitement gradually morphed into a comfortableness with Lucas company. Liza watched with a smile, while Lucas can see a hint of playful jealousy in Liza's eyes teasing him eyes as the kids clung to him, vying for his attention.

"Big bro Lucas," piped up a tiny voice, "can you sing us 'Perfect'? Like in the show!"

Lucas chuckled, ruffling the child's hair. "Alright, little one. Why not?"

His agreement ignited cheers from the group, even drawing curious glances from the teenagers. As Lucas's voice filled the room, a nurse rounding the corner stopped dead in her tracks, ears perked.

The melody was unmistakable, and the singer... could it be?

Hesitantly, she approached, recognition dawning on her face. There was no doubt about it – it was Lucas, the actor who played Dylan in "Modern Family." A mixture of surprise and delight flushed her cheeks.

When the last note faded, the room erupted in applause. Liza clapped enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. But the children weren't finished. Their imaginations buzzing, they turned their eager gazes towards both adults.

"Is Big Sis Liza your new girlfriend after Big Sis Haley, Big Bro Lucas?" one child blurted out, sparking a chorus of giggles.

A blush crept up Liza's cheeks as she playfully swatted the child's arm. Lucas let out a hearty laugh hearing the children's curious questions, joining in the lighthearted exchange. He just played along and playfully draped his arm over Liza's shoulder, eliciting a flustered yet amused smile from her. The children cheered, their innocent joy filling the air.

***

The goodbyes felt heavy in the air as Lucas and Liza prepared to leave the room. Laughter and chatter dimmed, replaced by a quiet understanding of unspoken goodbyes. Lucas felt a pang in his chest as he saw the children's previously joyous expressions soften slightly.

Liza assured them of her return, promising with a warm smile, "I'll see you all again soon, okay?"

Several voices piped up, "Will you bring Big Brother Lucas too?"

Liza, unable to speak for him, looked at Lucas with a question in her gaze. He met her eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. "I'll come again," he declared, his voice firm yet gentle.

A collective gasp of excitement filled the room. "Really?" Nicole chimed in, her eyes wide with anticipation.

Lucas nodded, his smile spreading wider. "Really."

The children surged forward, their voices overlapping in a flurry of requests. "Pinky promise!" "Swear on a pinky promise!"

Lucas couldn't help but chuckle at their enthusiasm. He held out his pinky, linking it with theirs one by one. "Pinky promise," he confirmed, "I'll come back as soon as I have some free time."

"Free time? When's that, Big Bro?" Jonathan asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Lucas smiled, as he promised, "I'll be back for sure. But not too soon, you see, Big Bro has quite a bit of work to do."

A few faces fell, disappointment flickering across them. "Just like my parents," Ryan mumbled, a hint of bitterness in his voice. Other children murmured in agreement, their brief moment of joy tinged with the reality of their situation. Despite the downcast moment, Lucas's promise had left a spark of happiness in their eyes.

Stepping outside the hospital, Lucas carried a quiet weight in his heart. Contrary to his expectations, the faces of the children and teenagers he met hadn't been etched with despair. Instead, a spark of hope flickered in their eyes, as vibrant as the colors of the board game they played. Their laughter echoed faintly, a testament to the tenacious spirit that refused to be subdued by illness.

Yet, under the surface of that joy, Lucas sensed a depth of understanding. These young souls, burdened by challenges he could barely fathom, carried a quiet awareness of their circumstances. It was a duality that struck him: the resilience that allowed them to play with carefree abandon, and the maturity born from facing their own mortality.

He hadn't anticipated their unwavering faith either. He had imagined cynicism taking root, questioning a higher power in the face of such suffering. But their eyes held a quiet belief, a glimmer of something bigger than themselves that sustained them, from the time Lucas got along with them, their stance in their beliefs was obvious. In their innocence, they understood the preciousness of life in a way many adults, shielded from harsh realities, never could.

He witnessed hope battling doubt, resilience overcoming fear, and faith offering solace in the darkest corners. These children, these teenagers, weren't just brave; they were warriors, fighting their battles with a grace that somehow humbled him.