Page 2 of The Wish
T he 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 red hair.
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.
‘Great!’ Amy replies before glancing guiltily at Jesse. ‘I mean, you know, OK I guess, Mrs Morgan.’
Sam hasn’t responded to Amy’s greeting and is still gazing at his feet. Jesse quickly looks from her mother to Sam, then grabs the video game Amy had thrown on the bed.
‘What’re you playing?’
Before Amy can answer, Jesse switches the game on.
‘This is kids’ stuff, come on, I’ll beat your arse.’
‘Jesse. Language,’ Mandy says automatically.
‘Sorry, Mum.’
‘Bring it on,’ Amy yells as she knocks the console from Jesse’s hands, ending the game Jesse started. ‘My turn.’
Mandy places the suitcase on Jesse’s bed and begins emptying its contents into the drawers nearby, placing the most recent family photo on top of the bedside table. Sam curls up on Jesse’s bed.
‘When will Dad be here?’ he says sullenly.
‘He’ll be here soon, he had to go to work,’ Mandy tells her son, ruffling his hair.
‘He always has to go to work,’ Sam snaps back. He snuggles down on the bed, watching the girls playing, his eyes slowly softening and lighting up as they laugh and jostle one another.