The Three Wishes of Billy Grier

Billy is a 15-year-old boy whose rare degenerative disease accelerates aging, threatening his life. With months left, he pursues three wishes to make his remaining time meaningful: to play jazz, to experience love, and to find his father. He keeps his plans secret from his mother, revealing his fear of causing her pain and his determination to control his fate. Beneath his bravado, Billy is compassionate, restless, and acutely aware of his vulnerability.

Nancy is Billy's mother, who grapples with sudden loss and overwhelming worry. She slips into depression when he disappears, but her resilience returns as she confronts the reality of his condition and begins to live again. Her journey moves from despair to renewed purpose, anchoring the emotional core of the story.

Phyllis is a charismatic, goal-driven young woman who dreams of opening a beauty salon. She partners with Billy to realize their shared ambitions and becomes his confidante and love interest. Her faith in Billy helps him face his mortality and his doubts about business and life.

Mr. Grier is Billy's father, living with alcoholism and a tenuous relationship with his son. He appears as a distant, struggling figure who embodies the familial fallout of Billy's illness and the complicated path to reconciliation.

Grandpa Grier is the family elder whose presence traces the lineage and memory of the Grier clan. He offers perspective on aging, family history, and letting go, providing quiet moral counterpoints to the urgency of Billy's wishes.

Dr. Gardner is one of Billy's doctors, part of the medical team that explains the prognosis and guides care. She represents the clinical, procedural side of Billy's world and the emotional distance and care that complicate end-of-life decisions.

Dr. Lindsey is another physician on Billy's case, contributing to the diagnosis and the conversation about hope, cure, and what remains possible.