Page 60 of The Wish
He doesn’t see the young mother approach with her two children in club uniforms until she’s right beside him.
‘Are you looking for someone?’ she asks. Startled, Alex blinks. ‘What?’
‘Are you looking for someone?’ she repeats. There might be a hint of suspicion in her eyes. Alex suddenly feels self-conscious. Does it look weird? A single man watching a group of teenage girls?
‘I just . . . I know someone,’ he stammers. ‘She’s not here. But she’s a runner. I was thinking of her, that’s all.’
The mother seems to relax at his explanation. ‘She’s an athlete?’
‘Was,’ he says. ‘She’s sick. Very sick. She asked me to help with something and – I don’t know if I can.’
‘That’s hard. But trust your instincts. Be bold. Be brave. Do whatever you can, and you won’t have regrets.’
‘No regrets, huh?’
‘It’s something I tell my kids. When they come last in a race, I say they still beat everyone who didn’t show up to compete.’
Alex looks at the boy and girl beside her. He wonders if they know how lucky they are.
‘Oh – sorry,’ she says, and laughs. ‘I talk too much. My husband says I could make friends with the devil.’
‘No,’ Alex replies, sincere. ‘You’ve given me something to think about.’
‘What’s your dog’s name?’ the boy asks.
Max is sprawled on his back, paws in the air, basking in belly rubs from both children.
‘Max. His name’s Max. We should be going.’
‘You and Max have a good day,’ the mother says.
‘You too,’ he replies, smiling now. ‘Good luck, you two. Have a great meet.’
Back home, Alex sits surrounded by glowing monitors. He layers music over the footage he and Steve captured. First, a track from Jesse’s playlist. He watches. Listens. It’s wrong. Another track. Still wrong. Again.
He drags visuals across screens, chasing timing, tone. It’s still not working. Frustrated, he slams keys and Sam’s drawings scatter to the floor. Max stays on his bed, looking worried, sensing the tension in the room.
Alex drops his head into his hands. Lifts it again and looks at Max.
The dog perks up, tail thumping once.
‘I can’t do this, Max, I’m not sure I have the knowledge or gear to pull this off. I’m not Marvel Studios.’ He rakes his fingers through his hair. ‘Help me out, buddy. Am I doing enough? If this falls apart – if we run out of time – will I be able to say I did everything I could?’
He accidentally knocks a keyboard to the floor. One screen goes black.
‘Damn it!’ he yells.
Max gets up, walks over, and rests his head on Alex’s lap, reassuringly.
CHAPTER 25
Dean had driven over to the hospital alone, heart in mouth, trying to keep his breathing regular. Trying to keep it together.She’s coming home, she’s coming home, she’s coming homeruns like a mantra through his head, over and over. This is as positive a spin as he can put on it, pushing down another negative thought that threatens to overwhelm him:they’ve given up, she’s given up, I’ve let them. But even that is better than the other, darker thought that comes to him at 3 a.m. when he’s all alone in his dreary rented flat, a thought that torments him until dawn:I’ve failed her.
He’s standing now, at the doorway, watching Amy and Jesse playing one last video game together, as roommates. Both girls are going home today, and Amy’s side of the room has been packed up, suitcases neatly stacked along one wall. Even with their backs to him, the difference between the two girls is striking – Amy is sitting upright, the red-gold fuzz on her head shining like a halo, dressed in a red hoodie and jeans. She looks slender but strong, especially in comparison to Jesse who is slumped, leaning on her friend, her neck looking too delicate to hold up her head.
He walks away, giving the girls a moment, giving himself a moment too, because the contrast is too great and too unfair. He gets a coffee from the machine, welcoming its bitter, acrid taste. Amy’s parents walk past him, holding hands. They have an air of bright hope about them, of relief. The danger is over, for nowat least, and they’re bringing home a daughter who may be weak now but who will get better, who will go back to school, find a job, fall in love. A daughter who has many years in front of her. Dean experiences an envy so vicious it feels like hate, which then makes him feel even worse. He knows he should be happy that at least one teenage girl gets to live.
They enter the girls’ room.It’s time,he imagines them saying,it’s time to say your goodbyes. He waits, watching them, unseen. Amy’s mum reappears, pulling along a suitcase and has her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. Amy is wiping away tears, her mother kisses the top of her head. Amy’s dad catches Dean’s eye. His smile leaves his face, and he nods – there is nothing to say, no words to make it better, and he follows his family out of the ward.
