Room 401
We walked into the hospital with my arm wrapped around Carlisle's arm. Our family had recently moved here to Chicago from Forks, our first move with Bella, Renesmee, and Jacob. Tonight the hospital was hosting a "homecoming" dance for the high school age in the oncology ward. The theme the board decided was "1940's: The War Is Over". Thanks to help from the parents and the nursing staff, the boys are going to wear homemade soldier's uniforms made to look like there wear from World War 2, and the girls beautiful dresses from the same time period.
Carlisle and I came early tonight so I could help get one girl I have grown attached to get ready. She was 16 with stage 4 cancer, her hair eyelashes and eyebrows were gone but her blue eyes still had a sparkle of hope. I have found myself visiting her more and more often these past few months. After kissing Carlisle's cheek I went straight to her room, 401. Quietly knocking on her door I could hear her faint heart beat and her sniffles from crying.
"Come in."
Her voice was shaking as if she had cried. I went in seeing her mother wasn't there this evening.
"Hello Emily. How are you this evening?" I asked setting a box on a nearby chair.
"Evening Mrs. Cullen," She smiled weakly with a faint line of dried blood on her bottom lip. "I'm fine. I was just looking for a new book to start."
I smiled at the dozen or so books scattered on her bed.
"Do you mind if I change your plans?" I asked nodding to the box I had brought with me.
"Mrs. Cullen are you referring to the dance?" Her voice was shaky, unsure, and worried, but also hopeful.
Smiling I took her hand careful of the IV needle in it.
"Yes I am, and I brought some things for you to have for tonight."
"Thank you Mrs. Cullen."
For a moment she raised her hand as if to run her hand though her hair only to remember it was gone.
"Come one dear," I held out my other hand for hers. "Let's get you ready."
I had Alice go a buy her wig that was close to her natural hair color and texture, along with full flinty lashes. Smiling taking out the dress I took from my closet remember the day and occasion Carlisle had bought it for me, it just happened to be in Emily's favorite color, violet.
"I believe you finished dear." After handing her a mirror, I clasped a small pearl necklace I bought for her around her neck."
"Mrs. Cullen, I can't..." Emily said as she softly touched the pearls with her fingertips.
"You can and will." I told her softly but firmly.
She smiled and hugged my tight as her eyes watered and whispered a thank you. Holding on to her I helped her down to the dance where Jasper was waiting on us.
"Emily, I just remembered, Carlisle asked me to help him with something. Would it be alright if Jasper escorted you tonight?" I asked when we reached him; I knew she had a small crush on him thanks to Edward's mind reading.
"It would be my pleasure ma'am." Jasper told her with a thick southern drawl bowing at the waist.
Replacing my arm with his, I watched as he placed his hand over hers watching over her face light up taking it all in. I stared for several seconds memorizing the pure happiness in her smile.
Turning to find Carlisle my phone beeped with a new text. My eyes burned with the unyielding tears as I read Alice's text:
"Tonight is her last night."