A Dying Wish

Chapter Four: Surprise

There is no remedy for love, but to love more.

|Thoreau|

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Finally, they were in the air. About 25,000 feet in the air to be exact.

Jack was occupied, but this time and he wasn't too happy about it. Jack was trying to wake Elsa up with no success. Elsa was a deep sleeper, that was for sure. Repeating her name over and over again, Jack resorted to shaking her.

With a quick yell of her name and a shake, Elsa bolted upright.

Her hair was as wild as the jungle, untamable and unruly. Her once stunning platinum ringlets now vaguely resembled a birds nest. It was unbelievable. Puffs of red lay beneath her eyes with slight marks of mascara.

Elsa sat for a moment, taking in her surroundings. Her face became confused as she didn't recognise them. Opening her mouth Elsa asked, "how did I get here?"

"I put you here," Jack informed her with an annoyed tone clear in his voice.

"Wow, you are very grumpy," Elsa mumbled with a sarcastic laughter. Elsa never liked Jack when he was grumpy, he wasn't his usual fun self. Jack became selfish and angry whenever he was in a bad mood, and Elsa didn't need that.

"Really, I wonder why that could be," Jack stated sarcastically as he continued to rant, "I had a scotch and cherry for breakfast-"

Elsa began to rant also.

"well, my boyfriend broke up with me this mon-"

"Or maybe it's because I found out my sister is dying."

Now Elsa stopped. Turning to Jack, Elsa noticed the serious expression that was placed on his face. Elsa noticed, that within Jack's eyes lay an ocean of sadness and depression. Elsa knew more than anyone that Emma meant the world to Jack. She knew that Jack loved his little sister more than any brother had or could have.

"What?" Elsa hoped it was a lie. Emma was a big part of her life too. They had spent many summers together with Elsa helping her with homework and babysitting. They were like sisters.

Jack turned his head slightly, not looking into Elsa's eyes. Afraid he may notice the grief within him, he kept his eyes downcast.

"She told me when you were asleep," Jack told Elsa with no emotion, "she's got six months."

Her heart crashed. Guilt developed within her. Here, Elsa was going on about her boyfriend breaking up with her when Jack's little sister is dying. The worst friend Elsa declared herself.

"I'm so sorry," Elsa whispered with a deep sadness within her. Turning her own face away from Jack so he couldn't see the pain and guilt that filled her.

Silence.

"Jack," Elsa stated after a moment of silence between them. Turning his head, he saw Elsa's pain and grief with the news. He almost thought it matched his own, but he knew that was a lie. No pain could match his own.

"You know, if you need anything, anything at all, I'm always here for you," Elsa informed him with a sad smile. He knew she meant it. Elsa always kept to her word, no matter what.

"Well actually," Jack hesitated nervously. He ran his fingers through his hair restlessly before he continued, "there is this one thing."

Elsa nodded her head eagerly. Willing to do anything to help him, Elsa waited patiently. If only she knew what he was going to ask her.