"Why don't you read us one of your own books?" asked a boy sitting near the chair she and Emily sat on, "I mean, it was really sad, but I really liked the first book you read us."
The boy had his head shaven in order to beat the chemo to it and large brown eyes with faint circles underneath them. He could not have been any older than ten.
Elizabeth gently set the book on the table behind her. "Well," she began, "I thought I'd start on a new story made special for all of you."
Emily looked up at her with a tilted head. "What's it about?" she asked.
"Well, it's not finished yet," Elizabeth explained, "but I can tell you that it has fairies, a beautiful maiden, and the moon goddess."
The room erupted with sounds of childish excited whispers. It pleased Elizabeth to hear such positivity directed at one of her own characters. She smiled as Nurse Elissa entered the room. Her lips were curled, and she was hugging her clipboard lightly to her chest. Her blue eyes almost seemed to light up upon making contact with Elizabeth. She looked as if she would burst with excitement at any moment. "Alright, guys, settle down," Elizabeth said in a soft tone, "I think our friend, Elissa has something important to say."
The kids giggled as they exchanged secretive glances at one another. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Okay, Elissa," she said with a smirk, "What's going on?"
"Elissa's friend is going to put you in a magazine!" the brown eyed boy blurted.
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide. "Excuse me?"
"Felicia, me, and the rest of the nurses really wanted to show you our appreciation for doing what you've been doing for the past few weeks," Elissa explained with only slightly contained giddiness. Elizabeth was still surprised by what had been revealed her and did not know what to say. "Come again?"
"Little Jeremy here," Elissa began slightly turning her attention to the brown eyed boy, "just told you. I realize that you are a struggling writer, so I called my friend who works with Gotham City Weekly. She thinks that your volunteer work here would make a great feature article in the magazine, and it could get your name out there. You know…just in case any editors are looking for new talent?"
Elizabeth found herself paying less attention to Elissa and found herself focusing on the little brown eyed boy. So, this is Jeremy, she thought, This is John's friend. He was smiling at her, and she returned the smile as she realized that he shared the same look in his eyes as John did when he smiled. There was an amount of pain that just could not be masked with a simple positive expression. She felt her self wanting to sit next to him and wrap her arms around him.
"So…what do you say?" Elissa said interrupting her thoughts.
Elizabeth, at first, thought it was a joke, but then took into consideration that it would be a very cruel joke and that Elissa was probably not capable of pulling off that kind of cruelty. "You didn't have to do that," Elizabeth said as a few other nurses entered the room to escort the kids back to their rooms, "I do this kind of thing because I like doing it."
Elissa shrugged. "I didn't have to," she said, "but you also didn't have to come every week to help us, so we're even."
Elissa led her to the waiting room where a young petite woman with orangey yellow hair sat. "It's nice to meet you," the woman said standing up to extend a hand, "I'm Erica."
Elizabeth accepted the handshake. She still did not feel completely comfortable as she sat in the empty chair next to her. She only wanted to do nice volunteer work. She was not looking for any recognition or attention through doing it, but she also did not want to seem ungrateful to Elissa.
"So, let me start off by asking what drew you to volunteering at the hospital?"
Elizabeth, feeling awkward, folded her hands on her lap. "Well, I guess I just wanted to share my stories."
"But why not to other kids? Why with these kids?"
Elizabeth readjusted the hands on her lap. "Other kids don't have to fight against their own bodies," she explained, "and they shouldn't have to, but these kids do."
"Now, I understand you are working to get your graduate degree in creative writing?" Erica continued.
"That is correct."
"You sound like a very busy woman," Erica smiled as she continued to jot down notes, "yet you use your spare time to share stories. I think that's very admirable, and I think the workers here would agree."
Elizabeth shrugged with a coy smile. "Thank you."
"Have the children responded well to your writing?" Erica continued.
"I hope so," she said, "but I think the one's that can tell you that for sure are the kids. You should ask them."
"Well, I spoke with them earlier before you visited," Erica said, "They seem to really enjoy your visits."
Elizabeth nodded and looked down at her folded hands. This was exciting news, but she didn't know how to show it without seeming awkward. "I'm really glad to hear that."
"If I may put my personal two cents in," Erica said, "I think this is a great thing you're doing, and I hope you gain success in your writing career."
"Thank you," she said, "but I've been reading them work by other authors for a while now."
Erica tilted her head with a new curiosity. "Why is that?"
"I realized a short time ago that some of my stories kind of end on a sad note, and I don't think these kids need any sad stories," she explained, "They need…well, they need an escape, so I'm currently writing a new story that I believe can help lift their spirits."
Erica gave her another bright smile. "You really are going out of your way to help these kids escape."
"It's not a big deal," she said, "Every kid everywhere needs an escape at some point in their lives."
"Well, I'm going to have to agree with Elissa and the rest of the staff here and say that I hope you continue to volunteer at the hospital and give these kids something special to look forward to."
Elizabeth thanked her once again just before the vibration of her phone startled her.
Elizabeth was relieved to find herself waiting for the elevator doors to open after the interview came to a close. She thanked Elissa numerous times for the surprise, but felt her heart racing as she embraced the nurse.
When the doors parted before her she couldn't help but grin at the familiar face. "Officer Blake," she greeted him with a tone that was more upbeat than she wanted to sound.
He let out a light laugh. "This seems a little familiar," he joked as she stepped out.
"Only this time I'm not nearly knocking you over," she said as she waked passed him into the elevator.
"I was just here to visit Jeremy," he said, "Would you like to join me?"
Right as she opened her mouth to speak she felt the tremor of the phone within her purse once again. Damn you, Jake.
"I'm really sorry," she said, "I can't. Please tell Jeremy that I'll work extra hard tonight on the new story."
And with that, the doors closed between them.