The boy was too young to be confined to a hospital. He was supposed to be too innocent to have the jaded, knowing look in his eyes. He didn't have enough memories for almost all of them to be as painful and sterile as they were.
Yet he was and he did.
His name was Tomasz, and he had cancer.
He'd been getting treatment for it nearly his whole life, yet still he never got better. In fact, lately, he'd been getting worse. His family and he had spent the day together, laughing at old jokes and photo albums, telling stories and talking about dreams. They challenged the fear and depression that came with the doctor's news. His doctors, behind a wall of cloth - as Tomasz coughed and spit out his last, rotten baby tooth - told his family that he had maybe a month to live if he was lucky. Now, after the festivities and revelry, the boy lay on his bed in a fitful slumber as his parents and older sister all slept in the chairs lining the room.
When Jack crept in through the window, Toothiana was there, floating above the bed and holding one small tooth in her hand. He took his place next to her, partaking in a moment of silence for the boy.
The silence was broken when Tooth noticed his presence. She startled and yelped before smoothing down her feathers, "Oh! Jack, how long have you been there?"
He gave her a sad smile, "Not long," He looked down at Tooth's hand, "Is that Thomasz's?"
"Yeah, it fell out today. It's his last, you know," Tooth explained, "and he made so many good memories today. I was so excited to help him in the future, but if you're here, then that means," She trailed off knowingly, gripping her elbows with her hands.
"Yeah, it's time for him to go," Jack sat on the edge of the bed, his insubstantial weight not even creating a dent in the mattress. He stroked the boy's hairless head.
With a small grunt, the child blinked his eyes open, groggily taking in his surroundings before his vision darted to Jack, "Who're you?"
"My name is Jack, kiddo, and I'm here to take you on a journey," Jack smiled encouragingly at the boy's skeptic look, "I really am, but first, I think somebody left you a gift. Why don't you check?" the young Guardian asked, inclining his head to the boy's pillow.
Tomasz's eyes widened before he snuck his hand under the pillow, and pulled out five zloty, "S-she's real! The Tooth Fairy's real!" He exclaimed, before looking up and noticing the five foot bird-like woman hovering at his bedside, "Woah!"
Tooth appeared shocked but quickly pulled herself together, "Hello, Tomasz,"
"Hi," The boy whispered, careful not to wake his sleeping family. He didn't say any more and didn't get up from his spot on the bed. Both actions would hurt the boy more than he already did, but everyone could tell from the way he clutched the coins to his chest and stared at the brilliant plumage of the Tooth Fairy that he was wonderstruck. Tooth looked as if she wanted to say more, but didn't know what she should talk about.
Jack smiled and spoke instead, "It's time to go Tomasz,"
Tooth's feathers fluffed in agitation, "Oh, Jack, does he really-"
"Yes," the winter spirit replied immediately, "He does,"
"I do what?" The boy interjected, obviously annoyed at being talked about right in front of him.
"You have to go," Jack replied seriously. He didn't clarify. The boy knew what he was talking about; Jack could see it in his eyes.
"I can't come back, can I?" He asked, and for a moment, Jack considered lying, but he didn't. The boy deserved better than that.
"No. No you can't," Jack answered forlornly, "I'm sorry. But where you're going? It's a great place. It really is. Free ice cream and movies and you can play all day long. You'll love it,"
"But my family," The boy objected weakly, unable to get the rest of his sentence out in his waning strength.
Jack merely smiled and brushed his fingers against the boy's head again, "You'll be reunited. Don't worry. No one can separate a good family like yours,"
The beeping of Tomasz's cardiac monitor was slowing down rapidly, and just as it reached zero, a snowflake - impossible in the heated hospital room - floated down and landed on the boy's nose.
Jack stood up, holding hands with a now transparent Tomasz. His previously bald head now contained thick, wavy hair, and his skin was no longer gaunt and paper thin. The boy looked at himself in amazement, "I-I don't hurt anymore!"
"That's right," Jack said, "You'll never have to hurt again. Isn't that great?" The child smiled up at him, "Come on, now. We have to go," Jack commanded, walking toward the window.
The boy paused, looking back at the adults sleeping blissfully unaware in the room, "What about them? They'll be sad," He mumbled, as if he'd get in trouble for objecting.
Jack kneeled down and looked the boy in the eye, "Yes. They will for a little bit, but they'll know you're in a better place, and they'll remember how awesome you looked when you smiled, and they'll be happy. For you. So that when you see them again you can be proud of them, and Tooth there will help. She helps people remember the important things, you see, and she's a Guardian, so she'll always look out for your family, okay?"
The soul considered this for a second before nodding, "Okay. Okay. I guess I can go then,"
Jack ruffled the boy's hair, "That's it kiddo. Now when you get there, look for a girl named Mary Overland Frost, okay? She'll teach you how to make the world's best snowball,"
"I will. Thanks, Jack," Tomasz flung his arms around the winter spirit even as he began to fade into little orbs of light. Jack remained paralyzed for a moment before he lightly grabbed the boy in a hug as well, not saying anything.
In the background, doctors were rushing into the room, and Tomasz's family woke up, only to collapse to the ground by their dead son's bed. Jack stood up next to Tooth.
"You will help them right? I don't want to be a liar,"
"Of course I will. I am a Guardian after all," Tooth replied somberly, "But what about you Jack?"
"Hmm? What about me?" Jack asked curiously.
"Are you okay? Do you need help?" She enquired, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Jack froze for a moment before he pulled himself together, "Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? I have to go. Someone needs me," Not wasting any time, Jack flew out the open window.
It wasn't a lie, even if he didn't exactly know who needed him at the moment. Someone always needed him. After all, millions of souls were crying out for a salvation that only he could bring.
Oops, I forgot to mention that this story is already written out in its entirety, so, assuming my internet connection doesn't fail me, these updates should be quite regular.