Page 92 of The Wish
‘I’ve been busy, what is it?’
Kelly pauses at his abrupt tone.
‘Alex, it’s Jesse. A donor, we found a donor and she had a transplant this afternoon.’
‘How is she, tell me, how’s she doing?’
‘She made it through, but she’s not waking up. We . . . we don’t know yet, it’s too soon. Oh, Alex, she was so weak, I think it might be too late.’
Alex doesn’t respond.
‘Are you there, Alex, did you hear me?’
‘Yeah, I heard you. What does it mean that she’s not waking up?’
‘Not good, she should’ve come around straight away, the procedure isn’t that complicated for the recipient. Look, can I come over? I don’t want to be on my own tonight.’
Alex tries to roll over on the bed where he lies propped up by pillows.
‘I’m not home. I’m sorry, I can’t see you tonight. Call me tomorrow and let me know how she’s doing?’
Stunned by his response, Kelly hurls the phone across the room.
Shutting his phone off, Alex places it on the hospital bedside table. Rolling onto his side, he winces in pain.
It’s still early, but the sun burns brightly when Alex walks out of the hospital and goes to his car. Phoning Steve, he thanks him for taking care of Max and asks if he can stay with him another day, as he’s not up to taking care of him just yet.
Knowing he has little to eat at home and suddenly hungry, he drives to a local café. He finds the last vacant table outside and eases himself into a chair. A waitress approaches, handing him a menu. Changing his mind about eating he waves away the menu and asks for a coffee. Leaning back in the chair he watches the passing traffic, oblivious to the noise. The waitress reappears and places a cup of coffee in front of him as his phone rings: it’s Kelly.
‘Hello,’ he says.
There is nothing said in response.
‘Hello?’ he says again.
He listens for a few seconds before disconnecting the call. He slumps in the chair, staring into nothing, seeing nothing, hearing nothing.
The diners at the table beside him leave, are replaced by other diners who eat and drink and leave. His phone rests on the table beside the untouched coffee. The waitress approaches him, tearing the check from her pad, her signal that this punter needs to order more or move on. Alex slowly stands, using the back of the chair to drag himself to his feet, and walks away. Thewaitress watches him go. He’s forgotten to pay. Screwing up the check, placing it in her pocket, she takes away the untouched coffee.
Alex pauses outside the doors which have opened for him to enter. He looks at the sign he’s seen so often: 6 East.
Nudged by others coming and entering the ward he takes a step in. Walking past the nurses’ station he looks at the staff there who give him their usual warm smile, nothing else to be read from their faces.
He stops at the entrance to Jesse’s room, suddenly overwhelmed with fear. He can only see the backs of Mandy and Dean standing over the bed, Sam sitting carefully at the foot. His heart is racing. Then Mandy laughs softly and moves enough for him to see Jesse sitting up, eyes open, smiling. She sees him.
‘ALEX!’ she cries out.
As he steps into the room, Sam jumps from the bed. Dean turns and walks towards him, but Sam beats him to Alex, throwing himself at him, hugging him, knocking against his hip. Alex winces and moves Sam away.
‘Easy there, Sam,’ he says, with a pained voice.
‘Sorry, Alex, have you got a hurt? I had a hurt once on my side, it was when I gave some stuff out of my body to make Jesse better, but it didn’t work,’ he says with the innocence of a child.
Dean walks towards Alex and hears this exchange. He stops in front of Alex and propels him out into the corridor as Sam runs back to Jesse. He places his hand over his mouth to stifle a sob. He stares at Alex.
‘Alex . . . it was you . . . Oh my God, I didn’t know . . .’
Alex reaches out and grabs Dean’s arm.
