The Lullaby Nights

♥ 5

GINA

'How about you come with me? We could think of something that would make your girlfriend's last days remarkable.' I looked at him, hopeful. I desperately wanted to help him. He didn't deserve to be alone. Not after what he'd just heard.

His green eyes lifted. I felt my heart shatter at how much pain they conveyed.

'Alright.' His response was merely a whisper. He then stood up from the floor.

I dug my hands into the pockets of my blue trousers. I'd always admired the colour of the scrub suit that had been provided to us, the personnel. Now, however, I couldn't stop thinking about how much it resembled Nina's eyes, and how much Harley must've hated it.

I couldn't blame him if he did. After my sister died, I used to despise everything. I was old enough to handle her death at the time, but I didn't. I couldn't possibly imagine how agonizing today must've been for him. He was only eighteen, for Christ's sake. He should be out somewhere instead, maybe in the city, drinking too much alcohol and kissing his girlfriend, not watching her die.

We made it to the staff room. I opened the door and let him in. We were alone thanks to everyone's busy schedule.

'Take a seat, Harley.' I gestured for him to choose a spot.

His jaw clenched. I assumed he was suppressing another sob. Eventually, he sat down on one of the old leather sofas that gave a low creak as he eased down.

'Would you like something to drink?' I pointed at a kettle.

He rubbed his face and glued his sight to the floor. 'No, thank you.'

I swallowed hard, looking at his eyes, pooled with heavy tears. They fell at last and splattered across his hands. He seemed to have not even noticed.

I sat beside him. 'Have you ever heard of the Lullaby Nights?'

He searched with his fingers for some non-existent lint on his clothing. 'No.' He shook his head. His hands disappeared in the sleeves of his hoodie, like a tortoise's head when it hid in its shell. 'What are they?' He sounded disinterested. His stare was fixated on the floor.

I kept my eyes on him, hoping he'd finally mirror my actions. 'They're an idea from years ago. Your mum came up with it.'

He turned his head to me, curious.

I cracked a small smile. 'Wendy and I used to be close friends. She also knew my sister, Trina.' I let out a quiet sigh, reliving that poignant memory. 'When Trina got diagnosed with leukaemia, and heard the worst news, your mum just couldn't watch her spend her last day so uneventfully. She wanted to make each one of them count. The idea of the Lullaby Nights was the perfect solution.'

Harley listened, attentive. His lustrous eyes lingered around my face. 'What are they, then?' His voice remained frail and brittle.

I smiled, sympathetic. 'They are your chance to say goodbye, Harley. You can make her last days beautiful. Consider something Nina enjoys. Things she's always wanted to do. Then do it here, in the hospital.'

He pulled the hood off his head. Even the light that descended upon his face wasn't powerful enough to brighten it.

'Wendy didn't name this idea the Lullaby Nights for nothing.' I took a deep breath. 'These days, darling, whatever you make them, are supposed to help Nina feel ready to close her eyes, just like a lullaby would do.'

My words made his chin tremble. A wail of despair escaped his mouth and echoed throughout the room as he buried his face in his hands. It broke my heart. I knew how much it'd hurt him. I'd been in his shoes before.

I still remembered the day when Harley first cried. He hadn't let himself shed a single tear for over two months since Nina's diagnosis, but once it became clear she wasn't getting any better, he'd just burst into tears in the middle of the corridor, like he did today. But today was different. Today his hope died, and so would his girlfriend soon.

There had been one afternoon when Harley had stopped me and taken something from his pocket. He'd shown me a box with a very dainty ring inside it, an engagement ring.

'Once she's out of the hospital, I want to marry her,' he'd said to me.

He didn't want to propose here. His decision to marry wasn't influenced by leukaemia, and he wanted Nina to know that. He loved her to bits. We all knew it.

I looked back at him. Tears glazed his cheeks and chin. I ventured to place my hand on his back and my heart momentarily clenched.

Harley threw himself into my arms like a baby. I felt so sorry for him. He'd lost his parents and the only family he had – his brother – spent most days at work to provide food, so right now, Harley had no one. Not a single person to be consoled by, and so I scooped him into my embrace and held him tight. He cried for another few minutes.

He eventually pulled away, just as my break was ending, and wiped his tears.

'I'm so sorry, Gina.' He sniffled, cleaning his nose on his hoodie.

'Don't be sorry, darling.' I kept my tone warm and understanding. 'You can cry on my shoulder at any time.'

He shifted his sight to my face. Regardless of how much he'd already bawled, heavy tears seemed to have easily refilled his eyes. This time, however, he had them under control. They brimmed at the rims, lingered and trembled, like autumn leaves did on trees when they were ready to swirl down.

'Nine days,' he said, determined. 'Nine Lullaby Nights.' He inhaled deeply, then made his way back to Nina's room.