Page 50 of The Wish
Sandy walks into the room and sizes up the situation. Seeing Sam alone in the corner of the room she goes to him and, taking his hand, leads him out. The others just watch them leave.
‘No, Alex. There is no more treatment we can offer Jesse. She’s had bone marrow transfusions, she’s on the bone marrow register but there are no compatible donors, and she’s had too many rounds of chemotherapy for her young body,’ Kelly tells him.
Kelly’s words wash over Alex like the tide on a beach, their meaning not sinking in.
‘I still don’t understand. What does that mean?’ Alex asks slowly, knowing the answer but not wanting to believe it. He looks from Kelly to Mandy.
‘Bloody know it all doctors, they don’t really know a damn thing,’ Dean says, the venom no longer in his voice. He turns and points to Alex. ‘And you, stay away from my daughter, stay away from my family. You hear me!’
Dean storms out of the room. Alex looks at the others who all stare back at him. Then, he too runs from the room.
CHAPTER 20
‘That had to be tough. I’ve got to tell you – having my own kids? I don’t think I could’ve handled that.’
Alex barely hears Steve. He had come into the office that morning and spilled it all, the words coming out flatly, mechanically, like he was ticking off items on a checklist, as if describing someone else’s night. Ward 6 East. Jesse. Dean. Mandy. The poem. The drawings. He tells it all like it’s a story he once heard, not something he’s just been through.
Steve watches him from over the cubicle partition, but Alex keeps his eyes on the screens. The flickering pixels blur together, meaningless shapes and colour. He stares until the movement starts playing tricks on him. None of it feels real.
For years, he’s kept himself safe by staying detached. By choosing not to feel anything deeply – except loyalty to Max. He spends his life in simulated worlds, where outcomes are predictable and reset buttons exist. Reality is messier.
Steve’s still talking. Alex hears the tone, not the words. He nods, hoping that’s enough to make it seem like he’s listening.
‘So . . . what happens now? Have you told Ian?’
The moment Ian’s name hits the air, something sharp snaps Alex into focus. He looks up, jaw tightening.
‘This isn’t about Ian,’ he says, his voice clipped. ‘Never was.’
Steve holds up a hand in surrender. ‘Hey – I get it. This is hard. But good on you, mate, this is the most open I think you’ve ever been with me. I think I’ll give my kids an extra hug tonight.’Steve pats him on the shoulder and adds, with a faint smile, ‘Better get back to work. Someone’s got to pay those dental bills. Ouch.’
Then he’s gone, back behind the divider. Alex turns to the monitors again, though he still sees nothing. The day crawls by, and he can’t focus on the project he was working on before Ian told him to visit the hospital. Images from last night flash through his mind in fragments – Jesse’s bandaged arm, Mandy’s voice breaking, Sam’s quiet drawings. He stares at the partition wall as if he might find answers there.
His phone rings. He jumps.
The voice on the other end sounds distant, distorted. He pulls the phone away, looks at the screen like it might explain something. Then he ends the call and stands, grabbing his jacket.
He doesn’t hear Ian approaching.
‘Update, Alex,’ his boss demands.
Alex tries to sidestep, but Ian lifts an arm, blocking his path.
‘Going somewhere?’
Alex ducks beneath and walks off.
‘All this bloody time out of the office – you better be nearly done with that pro bono,’ Ian calls after him.
Alex doesn’t stop.
‘Listen, enough’s enough. Bronwyn can’t finish her project without your part. If we lose this contract, the whole company takes a hit. All because you can’t handle one little assignment.’
Still walking, Alex looks over at Bronwyn. She gives him a small nod – she’s got it covered.
‘I’ve scheduled the media for next week, Alex! Next week!’ Ian shouts.
Alex halts. Turns slightly. Takes a step back towards Ian – then stops, thinks better of it, and walks out.
