I rolled my eyes. “Yes. I can see the people at his foster home are really caring enough to come visit him.” She chuckled a little like she agreed with me, but I still looked at her pleadingly.
She sighed. “Okay. I’m not really supposed to do this, but I will keep your number and call you. As long as you don’t say it was me if I ever do.”
I crossed my heart. “I promise.” I smiled, but remembered something else. “Oh, and another thing. Can he ever leave the hospital—like, just for a few hours to go somewhere?”
Kimberly inhaled, looking deep in thought. “Sometimes he has good days, sometimes bad. It also depends. If you’re looking to take him out, you would have to seek permission from Social Services. He is still only fifteen. Mind you, he will be sixteen this coming Sunday. I suppose he is free to do what he wants after that.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Really? He never mentioned that. It’s a big birthday. Normally kids his age are dying to tell people.”
Kimberly sighed, looking sad again. “I know. I don’t know you, but you seem like a nice lady. I’m glad he has someone in his life. He tries to tell us it doesn’t affect him, but we all know it does. We try our best here, but there is only a certain amount we can do.”
I nodded my head. “Of course. All you nurses do a stand-up job. I take my hat off to the lot of you—and I really mean that.”
She smiled brightly. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
I was about to leave, but I needed to know more. I doubted Jeremy would be forthcoming. “Can you tell me more about his condition?”
Kimberly bit her lip again, looking over her shoulder. “Well, I’m not supposed to, but I can tell you a little. Jeremy has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. It’s a type of cancer which affects the white blood cells. You see, the white blood cells in your body help protect you from infection and diseases. In Jeremy’s case, his are cancerous and, not only that, they multiply. He’s being brave, but I know this must be affecting him. He was in remission for a little while, but he got ill and the cancer came back. It was almost as if he decided that was it. He has given up. We keep trying to make him see things positively, but I think that has just made him quite depressed.” Her eyes widened a little as she looked away. “Sorry. I really shouldn’t be telling you all of this. It’s not my place.”
Laying a hand on her arm, I smiled. “I’m glad you did, Kimberly. I promise I will keep what you said strictly between us. I’ll go now as I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable, but I’m really glad you told me.”
Kimberly smiled. “That’s okay. You enjoy the rest of your evening.”
I smiled back. “You, too, Kimberly.”
I could have taken the bus but, once I walked out of the hospital, I decided to take a walk. I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, which seemed a little selfish when Jeremy was going through everything he was. In a sense, I wished there was something more I could do. So, on the way home, I bought another multi-pack of Twiglets, and the third book in the series he was reading. It would be something to look forward to giving him on my next visit. And I was determined to visit as often as I could.
When I got home, I placed my bag and coat by the door, and rushed into the kitchen to open a bottle of wine. I placed a Chicken Tikka Masala frozen meal in the microwave, pressed the button, and proceeded to get undressed to take a shower. I was exhausted, so a nice warm shower, a glass of wine, and an Indian meal seemed just the ticket for me.
Once I got in my bathroom, I nearly flipped. The little fucker had been in my flat again and had turned my toilet paper the wrong way around. “Arrgggh!” I shouted in frustration as I turned it the right way. “If I wanted a husband to piss me off, I’d fucking get married!” Seriously, what was wrong with me? I was now making a habit of shouting at no one? I wonder why the neighbours haven’t sent the men in white coats to come and get me.
I sighed in frustration again, but headed for the shower. I took my time getting washed, feeling good as new afterwards. I put on my pyjamas, put my meal onto a plate, and went to grab my glass of wine from the counter.
I stopped dead in my tracks. All the wine in my glass had miraculously disappeared.
I stood there for a moment, wondering what the hell to do. My heart was thumping, my loins were tingling, and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up.
Once I composed myself, I put everything down and searched every corner of the apartment, but there was nothing. I even jumped out, growling like an idiot, a frying pan in my hand. If I would have found him, I would have hit him, serving him right after playing me last night. I would also get to have a glimpse of the man that had been a part of me for the last three years.