Page 28 of The Wish
‘You’re welcome, I’ll see you back in the office.’
As Steve walks back to the car park Alex flicks a switch on his camera from video to photo and snaps away.
Buoyed up by his first day filming, with some still shots to show Jesse, Alex walks through 6 East smiling. The ward is full of family and friends surrounded by those young patients mobile enough to be out of their rooms.
‘Hey, Alex, what are you up to?’ Ryan calls out. He’s with two adults, and a younger girl and boy.
‘Hi, Ryan, I’m just going to see Jesse.’
‘Will you come and say hello to my family?’
Alex walks over to the family.
‘This is my mum Gaylene, my dad Norm.’
Ryan wraps his arm playfully around his younger brother, ‘And this is Ash, or Ashton as Mum and Dad call him, and my kid sister Sienna.’
‘Hello,’ Alex greets them all gruffly.
‘We’ve heard about you from Ryan,’ Gaylene says, extending her hand for Alex to shake.
‘And Dean,’ Norm says, shaking Alex’s hand. ‘Sorry, probably shouldn’t have mentioned that,’ he adds, looking sheepish.
‘That’s OK, it’s nice to meet you. Good to see you, Ryan, I’d better go.’
‘Sure, say hi to Jesse for me, and don’t forget, no upsetting her,’ Ryan says, gently punching Alex on the arm.
‘We’re going down to the cafeteria to get milkshakes to have in the garden. Nice to meet you,’ Gaylene says. ‘Oh look, there’s Luke and his family. Norm, go and ask them if they’d like to join us.’
Alex slowly walks away, watching as Ryan’s father greets Luke and his family. Luke looks over at him and waves.
Alex spies Amy with a couple he guesses are her parents and she waves for him to go on into her room. He watches as Amy tells her parents who he is, and they turn and smile back at him.
There’s no sound coming from Jesse’s room, so Alex enters slowly. He freezes, unsure of whether to go in or turn and go home. Jessie is lying on her bed, propped up with pillows. The man Alex recognises as her father lies beside her, their faces almost touching. Jesse holds her phone, and each of them is wearing one ear pod. Both are clearly lost in music.
Alex watches for several moments before deciding to leave. Turning, the bag he carries knocks against the wall. Jesse opens her eyes and sees him. Jerking to sit up, she pulls out her ear pod. Dean sits up and follows Jesse’s gaze to Alex.
‘I didn’t mean to disturb you,’ Alex blurts.
Dean scrambles from the bed. ‘Well, you did. You are?’
Jesse struggles to sit up on her pillows. ‘Dad, this is Alex. I told you about him.’
‘What? Oh yeah. Alex. Look, now’s not a good time—’
‘He’s come here to meet you, please, Dad—’
‘OK, honey, calm down. Alex, let’s step outside for a few minutes,’ Dean says, walking through the door, clearly expecting Alex to follow him.
‘Dad . . .’ a worried Jesse calls out.
‘It’s OK, Jesse, I’ll be back in a minute.’
Alex looks at Jesse who shrugs her shoulders, so he follows her father.
Dean walks towards the doors leaving the ward and stops to the side to prevent them opening. Turning to Alex he talks quietly, but firmly. ‘Sorry to waste your time, we’re all good here, Jesse’s good.’
‘I don’t understand, I’m here for Jesse, I’m making her wish come true.’
