My Short Story Collection

Finding Neverland: Chapter Three

Chapter Three

"Oh Wendy look at this!" Peter called as he crouched down next to a bush, staring at something on the bush. Wendy tiredly turned around and frowned at him. "It better not be a bug, Peter." She said, coughing. Lately the coughing has been getting worse and she has been feeling much weaker. But it was something common for her during the winter time. Her body cannot handle winter well but this winter seemed to be worse than most. Still, she is trying push through and show no signs of weakness.

Wendy has been coming to visit Peter every day after school. She comes for a daily check up and then goes and visits Peter. She'd hang out for a good hour or so with him, exploring around the hospital gardens or just playing some simple games in his hospital room.

Slowly she came up beside Peter and he looked over his shoulder at her with a smirk. "Trust me, it isn't a bug that you're thinking of." He said and she hesitated. Chuckling, he slowly scooted over and revealed a beautiful blue and black butterfly with very pretty patterned wings.

A smile grew on Wendy's face and she crouched next to Peter, staring at the beautiful butterfly. "Wow..." she whispered. Peter looked over at her, grinning as he watched her staring at the butterfly in awe. Slowly, he looked back at the butterfly. "Wendy..." He said and she forced herself to look away from the butterfly and at Peter. She could tell something was bothering him. His eyes were downcast. 

"Y-your body is getting weaker... isn't it?" He asked. Wendy was taken aback by his question and for a moment, she hesitated to answer. Has he truly noticed her struggling these last few visits? Was she too noticeable?

Quickly, she shook her head and forced a smile upon her face. "It's normal Peter. My body cannot handle the cold like most people." She said. But Peter looked over at her with disbelief written on his face. "But is it this bad every winter for you or is this the first time?" He asked and she hesitated.

She took in a breath and opened her mouth to say something."Peter! You have a visitor." A nurse called, interrupting Wendy before she even got to utter a word. Both Wendy and Peter looked over their shoulder. When the nurse beckoned him to come. Exchanging glances, both Peter and Wendy got up and followed the nurse inside.

"Bell!" Peter exclaimed when they came into his room and found a woman, looking to be about her thirties with blonde hair sitting at the window, staring out. Bell turned and smiled when she heard Peter and he ran in, running toward her and into her arms. The two embraced her each other.

Wendy stood to the side, watching the two hugging. The nurse that was beside her walked away. When Peter and Bell pulled away, Peter looked over his shoulder at Wendy and waved her over. He looked so happy to see Bell. There was a twinkle in his eyes now that Bell was around.

Bell looked up at her and smiled softly. Wendy took small steps toward them, rubbing her arm nervously and looking down as she got closer. "Bell, this is my new friend, Wendy." He said as he looked back at Bell, still smiling widely. He then looked over at Wendy. "Wendy this is Bell, the girl I've told you about how has raised me and my other friends."

Wendy glanced up and nodded to the woman. "H-Hello." She said and Bell giggled. "Peter has mentioned you a lot in his letters. It is nice to finally meet you." Bell replied and Wendy flushed. Peter talked a lot about her?

Bell looked back at Peter. "Everyone keeps asking me when you'll be back home, Pete." She told him and his grin widened. "How are they all doing?"

"The usual. Twins are always up to their mischievous ways, Tristan is always doing his usual, doing his art and such to express himself being that is the only way he can truly 'talk'. Nail is always going around the garden and doing his brave adventures but he recently hurt himself when he fell off of the big oak tree. Sean is doing his usual and playing the instruments in the music room." Bell explained.

Peter chuckled and looked over his shoulder at Wendy again. "I think I'll be able to go home soon right Bell?" He asked and Bell nodded. "Yeah, tomorrow you can come back but you'll have to come back for regular check ups." She said and Peter turned to Wendy. "Would you like to come visit us tomorrow?" He asked and Wendy shrugged.

He turned back to Bell with hopeful eyes and Bell sighed softly. "If she would like to come over, she is always welcomed to come over. How about it, Wendy? Would you like to come visit us?" She asked and looked up at Wendy.

Slowly, Wendy nodded. "S-sure. I would like to." She said and Peter jumped in excitement. "Great! It'll be so much fun! I'll show you all around my place and my yard! It's like a magical garden, trust me!" He said. Wendy smiled softly and started imagining what a magical garden could possibly look like.

She giggled and looked at Bell. "I'll come by after school tomorrow." She said and Bell smiled softly. "Alright, that is around the time he should be discharged. I'll make sure lunch will be ready when we get home." She said and Wendy nodded. It was decided and Wendy got ready to leave to go back home. Bell was kind enough to walk her home.

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"Wendy, who was that?" Her mother asked as she let Wendy in the house ad watched a young woman turning to walk away. Wendy looked over her shoulder at her mother with a smile. "Peter's friend, Bell." She said and turned to her mother. "Tomorrow I'll be visiting Peter at his house and spending sometime there."

Stating that, she turned to go up stairs but her father came down stairs and stood in the way of the stair case. "Wendy... there is something we must talk to you about." Her mother said and walked over into the kitchen. Wendy, worried about what her parents will have to say, hesitantly walked to the kitchen. Her heart was racing and all the worse possible things that they could want to talk about with her raced through her mind. What could it possibly be that they would want to talk about? Has her condition worsened? Is her time lesser than they had thought?

Slowly, she sat down at the table. Her father joined them, sitting next to his wife and they both exchanged sorrowful glances. Louis grabbed Lizzie's hand though and squeezed it lightly and then he looked at Wendy. "W-we think..." He choked on the words he was trying to get out.

Wendy stared blankly at her parents, trying her best to show no emotion at all. "My time... I don't have much time left right? My disease is getting worse, isn't it?" She asked. She's seen the signs herself. A couple of times while at the hospital, visiting Peter, she has found herself having a hard time finding strength to go exploring with him or playing games with him lately. She has tried to push herself today but it was still hard for her. She has been feeling weaker lately.

Her parents sighed and her mother nodded. "The doctor wants you to start be hospitalize as soon as possible. Tomorrow actually... was when you were going to be hospitalized. He fears that you'll be getting worse as we continue into winter."

Wendy sighed and looked down. "How long will I be hospitalized for?" She asked and with her parents hesitating to answer, she already knew the answer. "It's unsure if I will be coming back... I could be hospitalize until I die... huh?" She asked and her parents immediately shook their hears. "No, not until you die but until you get better, okay?" Her father said.

Wendy took in a deep breath and looked up at her parents. "Can I at least visit Peter at his place before I become hospitalized? Please?" She asked and her parents hesitated to answer but when they exchanged glances, they slowly nodded. "Fine, but then we will take you to the hospital and you're going have to be hospitalize."

Wendy nodded and then got up. "May I go now... I am tired..." She said and her parents nodded. Slowly she walked out of the kitchen and up stairs to her room. Walking over to the window, she opened the window and sat down, staring up at the sky that was getting dark. "Peter... when will you come and take me to Neverland?" She asked. Silence was her only answer. Sighing, she looked down. "Never... huh?" Getting up, she walked over to her bed and grabbed her Peter Pan book with sadness. Neverland... is that also a place you don't have to worry about ever dying? Is ilfe enternal there? She wondered.

Suddenly, the boys and her little sister burst into the room, laughing and practially jumping all over the place. When they found Wendy on the bed with the book, they all jumped on her bed and looked over her shoulder and head at the book. "Are you ready to read to us, Wendy?" They asked. Wendy smiled softly. "It's not bed itme yet... I'll ready to you when it is time for bed." She told them. They groaned in disappointment but still, got off the bed.

Wendy set the book down and got up, walking over to the window again. Sitting at it once again, she stared out at the sky. Lost in her thoughts.