Clarity

1

I hated hospitals. That's all there was to it. For ten years now I was in and out of them. I hated the smell, the fake smiles of the doctors and nurses and I hated the food. Needles, blood and screaming, crying people didn't bother much. That was the soundtrack to my life. 

I sighed, waiting on the doctor to come in once again to tell me the bad news. Or good news, but I always prepared for the worst. The door opened and in walked a middle aged man with red hair and blue eyes. He was pale as a ghost and his teeth were white as hell. 

"Hello there, Isabella, how are you today?" he asked. I knew he didn't really care so I just stared straight ahead. 

"Your brother here?" I shook my head. He stopped coming to my appointments long ago so why he asks every appointment is beyond me. 

"Okay then. Well we have your blood tests in and everything checks out. So you are free to go. I will want to see you in a few weeks though just to check up on everything. So make an appointment with Mary okay?" He was smiling but I didn't feel like returning it so I just got up and walked into the hall. 

It was busy as usual. There were shouts from kids and parents yelling about the food their child is being served. I swallowed hard. Mary was waving at me, knowing I was going to set up my next appointment. 

"Hello dear," she greeted me as I laid my head on my arms on the desk. 

"Hello, love," I said in my british accent. I had this strange talent where I can very easily switch from my American accent to the British accent I grew up around.  She grinned. She was my favorite nurse. 

"Well honey I went and scheduled your next appointment but...um... we have someone who wanted to talk to you." Her tone had me worried. Something was up that she knew I wouldn't like. We had an unspoken bond. She knew different things about me most people don't care to know. And I could tell I would not enoy hearing whatever this 'someone' had to say to me. 

"He's in the lobby right now, but go out there and he will lead you to Dr. McClay's office." I just nodded. I walked out into the lobby. A man dressed in a black suit saw me, smiled then waved me to follow him as he got up to walk to the doctor's office. 

I sat in the chair that I was so used to sitting in. This hospital was my bitch. Ha. That's not funny but it is in a way. The man introduced himself as Stephan. He was a spokesperson. 

"For what?" I asked. 

"Uh, well the Make a Wish Foundation..." He studied my face. I bet I looked pissed because I knew I felt it. Make a Wish Foundation?! I wasn't dying!  

"That's nice and all but save that for the kid's who are actually dying." I heard someone clear their throat at the door. I whipped my head around to see Brandon, my brother. 

"Oh now you're here," I hissed. He gave me a look but said nothing. 

"Your brother and I already spoke about this. I know you are over 18 now but that does mean we can't grant this to one of our special patients. You have fought this for years and so far you are keeping it at bay so what harm will it do to just try?"  I instinctly felt behind my ear where my scar was healing. 

"This is bullshit. I ain't doing this." I got up but my brother blocked my path. 

"Bella, you think you could cut your act for five minutes and just listen?"

"Brandon, get out of the way."

"No, Bella, you need to at least listen. Don't you think you could beneift from getting out of this damn hospital and out of the damn house once in awhile?!" He was worried, I could tell. But I really didn't want this. This was for kids who had incurable diseases, right? Mine had to be curable. 

"Isabella, the Make a Wish Foundation believes that it actually helps the child get better, please at least look at the paper work I brought." Stephan handed me some papers. It went over details on who can be granted wishes, why this foundation is special, blah blah blah. 

"Ok, I'll look at it. But I'm not saying I'm participating." With that, I walked out. 

I was packing my things, getting ready to go when I heard a knock on my door. 

"Issa?" I smiled. I knew that voice and the nickname I had grown to love. Turning around, the small blond haired girl with the pretty green eyes stood smiling at me. 

"Hi, Abby, how are you today?" 

"Good. Going home again?" I nodded. She came and sat on the bed next to my suitcase. Over the past years I had grown to know this little girl. She was five when she started coming. Now the little one is ten. Five years of this, at such a young age, is not something a child looks forward to but she makes the very best of it. 

"Hopefully, I won't be back for awhile," I said. She nodded then picked up the paperwork I was given. 

"Are you dying..." Her voice was barely a whisper. I looked at her, not realizing she knew what Make a Wish was. 

"No, no they just wanted me to look at it. To...let other's know they can apply." I was terrible at lying but I didn't want her worried.

"Oh... I wanted to do this," she sighed. Her mother and father had passed away two days after her third birthday. I was told it was due to DUI, but Abby just think they got into a bad accident. There wasn't any need to make her think less of her parents. She lives with her cousin who doesn't do much when she's here and doesn't visit often. I didn't like her much. Abby said she needed to take care of her though so she never complained about anything. 

I stroked her hair and wished I could just give this to her. This girl of all people deserved to have a wish granted for them. She has gone through so much. Then, I had an idea. 

"Abby, I'm going to be right back." I ran out of the room to find Stephan again. Thankfully, he hadn't left. 

"Hey! Wait!" I yelled. He turned around. 

"Change your mind?" he grinned. 

"Nope. But I want to request something."