Page 97 of The Wish

‘You were there for her, you’ve been with her more than anyone; she didn’t want you to know any earlier, she didn’t know how to tell you that what you did, going through all the pain of donating, hadn’t worked.’

‘She knew it was me? I thought only Dean and you knew.’

‘Alex, really, Jesse worked it out on day one when Sam told her you had an ouchy on your hip, just like he had.’

‘She never said anything.’

‘It’s not a conversation she wanted to have with you. She loves you more than she can say and didn’t want your friendship to be affected by you knowing that she knew.’

‘Can I see her?’

‘You know you are listed on her admission as family to be admitted any time of the day or night.’

‘Is she …’ Alex can’t finish the sentence.

‘Dying? Remember what I told you when you asked me that question once before. It only takes a moment to die, the rest of the time we are living. Is her time short? Yes.’

‘How short?’

‘Days.’

‘Here you are, two iced coffees and two salad sandwiches,’ the cheery waitress says, placing the drinks and food on the table between them. Looking from Kelly to Alex she realises something is up and silently backs away.

Kelly pushes back her chair, takes the two steps to Alex, and sitting on his knee she cradles his head into her chest, stroking his hair, letting her own tears fall.

‘Take me to her, please.’

The door to Jesse’s room is closed. Sandy sees Kelly and Alex stop outside, clearly hesitant to knock, to open the door.

‘You two can go on in. Amy, Luke and Ryan left a little while ago. There’s just Mandy, Dean and Sam with her but I know she would want to see you.’

‘Thanks, Sandy,’ Kelly says, quietly knocking on the door and opening it.

Dean, Mandy and Sam are all sitting on the bed and look up as Kelly and Alex slowly walk to the bedside. Alex stands at the foot of the bed. Jesse is so frail, so vulnerable, so perfect.

Sensing he is there she opens her eyes and smiles. ‘You came, I’m so glad you came,’ she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

‘Had to see my favourite girl,’ Alex replies, forcing a smile.

Jesse weakly turns her head towards Kelly. ‘Hi.’

‘Hi, Jesse, I found this one loitering around a café and we thought we’d come and see you,’ Kelly says.

‘Thank you. Would you all mind giving me a few minutes with Alex? There’s something I want to talk to him about,’ Jesse says, looking between her parents, brother and Kelly.

Alex sees the reluctance in Mandy’s face at leaving her daughter. Dean gently takes Mandy’s arm. ‘It’s OK, honey,’ he says to his wife. ‘We’ll be right outside. We can give her a few moments with Alex.’

Not trusting her voice, Mandy lets Dean guide her and Sam out the door, followed by Kelly.

‘Can you come close? Please sit here,’ Jesse says, patting the bed in front of her.

Alex sits, taking her hand in his, looking into the eyes of the wisest person he’s ever known.

‘I loved seeing you come with Kelly, that means you were together.’

‘Yes, we were having lunch when your name came up, as it does every time we’re together, so we thought we’d come and see you.’

‘Thank you for not asking me how I am. You know people still ask me that when, duh, it’s obvious.’