Page 57 of Right in Front of You

CARTER

I knockedon the third door on the pediatric floor and peeked through the partially open room. Sarah lifted her head and greeted me with a wide smile.

“Hey, kiddo. You remember me?”

“Who could forget a firefighter? You’re a hero.”

During the past week, we’d exchanged the same two sentences each time I came to visit her.

“How are you feeling, Sarah?”

“Meh, could be better. How are the scars?”

“Meh, could be better.” I pushed on the wheels to roll closer to Sarah’s bed. She looked more frail today than she had last week. She almost reminded me of Daisy when the ambulance took her away after the tornado hit Hope Bay, barely holding on to life.

“Can I get you anything?”

“Nah, I’m just tired today.”

“What about this?” I reached into the side bag attached to my wheelchair and removed a wrapped popsicle. Hopefully it hadn’t melted.

“Is that banana flavor?” she asked, without waiting for my reply. Sarah peeled the packaging off for a taste. Her eyes rolled back. “It’s my favorite.”

I thought it would be. I took a chance assuming she’d like it, but it was Daisy’s favorite as well, so my gamble paid off.

“So, I heard you’re having a crappy week.”

“Yeah, my Autologus stem cell transplant didn’t work that well. They said some of my grown cells must have been infected already.”

“Molly told me they’ve been growing them for a while.”

“Yeah, my mama is sad. She had to sell the house to pay for the cells because they were expensive. And they didn’t work.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. She says I’m worth it.”

My heart squeezed. I really had high hopes for the transplant.

“Of course you’re worth it. And don’t worry about your mama and the house. She has lots of friends who will help her.”

“Are you one of them?”

“Yeah, I definitely am, honey. You don’t know this, but I used to be very close with your cousin Daisy.”

“The one who was killed in a tornado?”

The hairs at my nape stood tall.

“Yes, that one. She had freckles just like yours and I have a funny feeling that I landed in this hospital on purpose. To meet you.”

And help you, I added in my mind.

“How do you suppose?” Her brows furrowed in question.

“I think Daisy would have wanted us to be friends.”

“I think I would have liked her.”

---