Page 46 of The Wish

S andy checks the IV running into Jesse’s arm.

Dean, Mandy and Sam sit on her bed. Jesse tries to keep her eyes open, she wants to talk to her family, but she can’t stay awake.

Dean looks over at Amy’s bed, stripped bare, her pinboard empty.

Once again, he is overwhelmed by conflicting emotions – the sight of the empty bed reminds him that Amy is at home with her family, getting stronger.

Soon, Jesse’s bed will be empty, but . . . He can’t finish the thought.

There is movement at the door and Amy, Ryan and Luke appear. Dean nudges Mandy who sees them and smiles, indicating for them to come in. Looking at Dean, she nods at Sam and signals to the door. Dean picks Sam up and the three of them leave the room and join the parents of the three friends.

Watching Jesse’s parents and brother leave, Amy, Ryan and Luke climb on the bed with Jesse.

Amy strokes her friend’s hair and Jesse opens her eyes and immediately her face lights up.

She tries to sit up, but can’t. Luke snuggles up to Jesse and kisses her on the cheek before climbing off the bed and walking away.

Ryan gets off the bed and stands leaning over her face.

For several moments they smile at each other before Ryan tenderly kisses her on the lips.

A tear falls onto Jesse’s face. With nothing more to be said, Ryan squeezes Jesse’s hand then slowly walks out of the room without looking back.

Amy lies beside Jesse, cuddling into her as she falls back into a deep sleep.

A short while later, Amy is gently coaxed off the bed by her parents.

Kelly has come into the room and sits on Amy’s bed watching the two girls.

Mandy joins Amy and her parents, and she and Amy embrace for a long time.

Picking up a beanie from Jesse’s bedside table Mandy places it on Amy’s head.

She watches as Amy’s mother helps her daughter from the room.

Kelly is startled when Christine taps her on the shoulder, whispering something urgently to her. Kelly’s face registers amazement. Nodding her understanding, Kelly approaches Mandy and Dean.

‘Can you join me outside, please?’ she whispers. ‘Sam can stay here with Jesse; we won’t be long.’

Kelly, Dean and Mandy follow Christine and Sandy into a nearby office.

They sit in silence for a moment. Mandy reaches out and takes Dean’s hand as they steel themselves for whatever news they are about to hear.

Christine takes the lead. ‘I’m sorry to take you away from Jesse but there’s something I need to discuss with you.’

‘What is it?’ Dean asks, annoyed at not being with his daughter, and wanting to hear whatever awful news this is quickly.

‘The donor register, I mean, the bone marrow register, a new donor has come on it—’

‘What are you saying?’ Mandy interrupts.

‘It’s not a great match, it’s probably not even a good match, but—’

‘Christine, what are you saying?’ Mandy again interrupts. This is almost too much to bear. Are they about to get a reprieve?

‘Ordinarily I wouldn’t suggest this. Do you remember that we didn’t attempt the transplant from Sam until Jesse was strong enough to take it, and she’s far from that right now . . .’

‘Doctor, are you saying there’s a possible donor out there? Someone who matches Jesse?’ Dean asks, his voice rising.

‘Yes, but . . .’

‘No buts, there are no buts, please, I beg you to do it. Oh God, Dean, our little girl, our Jesse . . .’ Mandy blurts, close to hysteria.

‘Mandy, please slow down and listen to what I’m saying to you, this is very important. It’s not a great match but the markers are there, and the donor is willing, but I must tell you of the risks—’

‘We don’t care about that, what choice do we have?’ Dean asks.

‘You’re right. I agree with you. There’s no other option but to give this a try. But you have to be aware that if it doesn’t work then it might hasten the end for Jesse,’ Christine tells them.

Sandy interjects. ‘If we’re all in agreement, shall I start prepping Jesse?’

‘Yes, straight away. What can I do, what can we do?’ Mandy asks.

‘Say goodbye to Jesse. I’m so sorry to have to say that to you, but you need to be aware of the possibility that this is the last time you’ll see her alive. Her chances of survival, and the transplant taking, are slim,’ Christine tells them.

‘How long have we got?’ Dean asks.

‘I have a theatre waiting and the donor is prepped. Fifteen minutes,’ Christine says sympathetically.

Mandy throws herself into Christine’s arms and Dean hugs Kelly who has been standing with them listening to the conversation, numb with hope. She fights back tears. Breaking free from Dean, Kelly tells him to go and be with Jesse and Sam.

Dean grabs Mandy in a strong embrace, they each wipe the other’s tears before rushing back into Jesse’s room.

Christine and Sandy walk off, planning the upcoming procedure.

Kelly stands alone, looking lost. Shaking herself, she takes her phone from her pocket and punches in numbers.

Pacing up and down she stares at the phone.

‘Come on, Alex, pick up, pick up.’

The line disconnects, she redials, it rings on and goes to voicemail.

‘Alex, where are you, please phone me straight away, it’s about Jesse. I have news for you, ring me, ring me. Oh, it’s Kelly, by the way.’

It’s late. Kelly is curled up on her sofa, wrapped in a blanket, her companion, the television, is off, its black screen adding to her sense of despair, a box of tissues beside her. She jumps when her phone rings.

‘Hello,’ she says.

‘It’s Alex. You were trying to get hold of me?’

His voice is strangely muffled.

Sitting up, knocking the tissues flying, Kelly yells into the phone. ‘Where have you been? I’ve been calling for hours!’

‘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.

The waitress 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.

‘There’s nothing to say, Dean. Really.’

‘Oh yes there is, for now it will have to be the sincerest thank you a father has ever given to another human being. Thank you.’

‘Between you and me, Dean, let’s keep it that way, OK? Jesse: how’s she doing?’

‘Early days, early days, but hopeful.’

‘Good news. She’s just returned the favour.’

‘What favour? What are you talking about?’

‘I made her wish come true, now she’s made mine.’

‘Alex, get back in here,’ Jesse calls out, her arms out-stretched.