Page 2 of The Wish
Something catches Jesse’s eye, and she pushes her hat further back on her head to see better. With that gesture, a memory comes back to her. Her father had bought her this hat six months ago, after she had left her favourite one in the hotel room during their last holiday, despite having been reminded not to leave it behind. Jesse had seen the perfect replacement in a shop, and dragged her tall middle-aged dad in with her, where he’d stood out like a sore thumb amongst all the pastels and neon-coloured clothes. ‘What do you reckon?’ he had asked the assistant, putting the hat on and modelling it for them before plonking it on Jesse’s head with a wink. She remembers the smile on his face; she knew she was forgiven. Always.
My last holiday, she thinks for a moment.Was that my last ever holiday?Then, she remembers what it was that had made her push her hat back to get a better look. A brightly coloured hot air balloon hanging low over the water. It is so close that Jesse can see the people inside the basket. They are laughing and hugging each other. She waves to them; they don’t wave back – they can’t see her.
‘I could never go in one of those,’ Mandy says, glancing away from the road to see what her daughter is looking at.
‘I’d love to. To be flying free like a bird, it must be wonderful. What do you think, Sam?’ Jesse asks.
Not even a grunt comes from the back seat. Jesse and her mother exchange a glance, sadness returning to their faces.
‘We’re here,’ Mandy whispers.
Having found a parking spot, Mandy gets the suitcase out of the boot while Jesse opens the rear door and holds her hand out to Sam. He ignores it. Gently she reaches in and undoes his seat belt before coaxing him out of the car. Hand in hand, they follow Mandy into the building. They take the lift, grateful for the stops to their floor that discharge the other passengers. As the doors open and they step out, all three pause and look at the sign in front of them.
PAEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY WARD, 6 EAST
CHAPTER 2
The doors automatically open, inviting them to take the steps that will lead them to the place that has become Jesse’s second home.
‘Deep breath,’ Mandy says, squeezing Jesse’s hand.
Jesse, in turn, squeezes Sam’s, though he doesn’t respond, instead gazes sullenly at his sandals.
Before they have taken two steps inside the ward, the warm greetings of staff, other patients and their family members bring genuine smiles to Mandy’s and Jesse’s faces. Nobody wants to be here, but everyone is trying to put on as brave a face as they can. The walls are painted in bright, vibrant colours, and light streams in through the windows. The three of them make their way down the corridor, past a mural of an underwater scene, where friendly fish, sharks, octopuses and dolphins wave hello. Mandy and Sam stop at the nurses’ station to sign Jesse into hospital as she continues to her usual room. She pauses for a moment in the doorway, watching a girl her own age, cross-legged on a hospital bed, engrossed in her Switch.
‘Taking you a while,’ Jesse says, and grins as the girl looks up.
‘Jesse!’ The console is thrown down on the bed just as Jesse lands on it. The two girls hug and laugh. Amy is four months older but Jesse half a foot taller. Amy’s Scottish heritage is reflected in her pale complexion dotted with freckles, and her striking green eyes complement what there is of her fiery redhair. Amy flicks Jesse’s hat off, revealing her tufts of hair, too short to style. The girls rub each other’s downy head playfully.
The two beds are close together, next to each is a bedside locker-cum-table that holds the few precious possessions the girls bring with them, with a water jug and glass on top. Two chairs near each bed are the only other furniture in the room. Either side of the beds, the walls are covered in large pinboards. Photos, posters, letters, dried flowers and drawings separated by creative borders provide a wonderful splash of colour in an otherwise drab room.
‘Oh Jesse, why are you back here?’ Amy says lovingly. ‘You’re the last person I wanted to share a room with – if you know what I mean.’
‘I missed you. I wanted to be with you, and if this is the only place we can be together, then here I will be. OK?’
‘You’re such a liar, but I’ve missed you too. I mean, Ryan and Luke are OK, but they can be such a pain.’
‘Mum told me they’re back too. Well, let’s make the most of it: the dream team are back together, and everyone better beware.’
The girls laugh, and hug again.
‘Do they know I’m back?’ Jesse asks.
‘Yeah, they came in a while ago to annoy me and saw the pictures. Your dad was here earlier today.’
Jesse looks over at the bed she knows is waiting for her. The opposite wall is covered in family photos, her poster of Taylor Swift, along with her other favourite singer, Harry Styles. Her father has been in and put it all back up for her. She smiles. The fact that her favourite possessions and memories are packed into a small case, ready to be taken from her home to a room in a hospital, and that this has long been considered normal, is a joke she and Amy share. ‘Doesn’t every teenager have such a case packed and ready, aren’t they all waiting for the day they’ll return to the children’s ward?’
‘I see you still think Harry is hot,’ Amy says jokingly.
‘I mean, look at him, and he has the best voice.’
‘For a guy, I guess. Did you hear Chappell Roan might do another tour?’
‘Might. That would be amazing!’
Amy sees Mandy and Sam cautiously enter the room. ‘Hey, Mrs Morgan,’ she calls out. ‘Hi, Sammy, are you OK?’
‘Hello, Amy, how are you doing?’ Mandy asks.
