Page 14 of The Wish
‘Yeah, I do.’
‘Then come with me,’ Kelly says, turning and walking towards the lifts.
Alex hesitates then scurries after her.
Walking side by side, Alex and Kelly enter 6 East, heading purposefully to Jesse’s room. On the way they pass Amy, Luke and Ryan who are helping staff rearrange some of the children’s paintings strung around the nurses’ station.
‘Two minutes, I give him two minutes,’ Ryan announces.
‘Five, I reckon,’ Luke confidently replies.
‘You’re both wrong,’ Amy says.
‘What do you mean?’ Ryan asks.
‘Kelly will leave first,’ Amy tells the boys.
‘It’s a bet,’ Ryan says with bravado, his hand outstretched for Amy to shake.
She takes his hand in her, and they shake.
As Kelly and Alex approach Jesse and Amy’s room, an immaculately dressed, middle-aged woman intercepts them, smiling warmly at Kelly.
‘Kelly, have you got a minute?’ she asks.
‘I shouldn’t be long; can it wait a moment?’ Kelly asks.
The woman notices Alex.
‘Oh, I’m sorry for interrupting.’
‘This is Alex Daniels,’ Kelly says. ‘He’s here to see if he can help Jesse fulfil her wish.’ Turning to Alex, she says, ‘This is Dr Christine Taylor, Jesse’s doctor.’
The doctor extends her hand to Alex, who takes it, blushing despite himself. He feels five years old again in her calm yet commanding presence.
‘It’s nice to meet you, Alex. Call me Christine – everyone does. Thank you for helping Jesse. You have no idea how important supporting our patients in this way can be at a time like this.’
‘It’s nice to meet you, Doctor, but we’re not quite there yet.’
‘Oh, you’ll be fine, and you’ve got Kelly here to help you. She’s the best.’
She turns to Kelly. ‘I’ll leave you to it then. Kelly, I’ll catch you when you’re free.’
‘She doesn’t look like a doctor,’ Alex says, watching Christine walk down the ward.
‘What should she look like?’
‘Wear a white coat and have a stethoscope hanging around her neck, I guess.’
‘This isn’t an ordinary hospital ward. We’re much less formal than most hospitals and that’s something we’re super proud of. Now, come on. Jesse’s finished her treatment for the day. We never want to give up but, just to prepare you, there is only so much her young body can take.’
As Kelly and Alex enter Jesse and Amy’s room, Jesse looks up from the book she is reading. She’s pale, Alex notices, there are deep rings under her eyes, and she’s rigged up to an IV. For the first time he properly registers just how unwell she is. It hits him like a blow to his gut. How could he have been so blunt with her yesterday? She’s still a child and she’s . . . dying.
Alex attempts a smile and Jesse scowls back. Kelly grabs the spare chair next to Amy’s bed and pulls it alongside Jesse’s bed, indicating for Alex to sit. Jesse slowly places a bookmark in the book. Closing it carefully, she puts it down on her bedside table and gazes at the two of them, waiting.
‘Jesse, Alex has asked if he can talk to you about your wish, he’d—’
‘Let him speak for himself,’ Jesse interrupts, staring intently at Alex.
