When the Door is Closed, Open the Window

    by Carra

    Chapter 1

    A young girl, about ten years old, was crying in a big hospital bed. She had no hair left, and the only sign of her beauty that remained – was her shiny eyes. Even though treated with chemotherapy she still had that miraculous shine in her eyes. This time her eyes weren’t happy. Her name was Alice, as her adoptive mother used to say: “You are a real Alice from wonderland! Aren’t you?”

    She was crying because she just was told that she’d never see her adoptive parents again. Her life already didn’t have a beautiful beginning, but this was a true tragedy. The worst thing that could ever happen!

    Alice was diagnosed with leukemia three months ago. Her adoptive parents were devastated, but they didn’t give in. Last night after they came to see her with lots of chocolates as always, the doctor went out to talk to them in the hall, Alice didn’t know what the doctor said…

    - Mr. and Mrs. Jones, unfortunately I have really bad news for you – said the doctor.
    - What is it? What’s wrong is our girl all right? – Asked Mr. Jones.
    - Alice… Alice won’t see the summer again. Her health is getting worse daily, and she won’t live longer than another six months.
    - My little Alice? My Angel? She won’t live until the summer? – Exclaimed Mrs. Jones. – But her birthday is in July!
    - Calm down, darling – said Mr. Jones.
    - But Peter, she’d only been six months with us, and she has only another six months left! Why God wants to take her away so quick?
    - Please don’t cry Ofra, Alice is going to hear us!
    - I’ll wait in the car. I cannot look at my Angel when I feel like this!
    - Ok, darling, see you in the moment. – Said Peter.
    - Doctor, continued Peter, are you sure there is nothing else we can do?
    - Mr. Jones if we treat her with any more chemicals, it’s not the leukemia that’s going to kill her, it’s going to be us!
    - And what about bone marrow transplant?
    - We looked for someone suitable, but as her biological parents are unknown it’s difficult to find someone who is suitable to help her.
    - But if we find a donor she would live?
    - Yes, she would, but her tissue type seems to be rare or we just don’t have volunteers with that kind of tissue.
    - So there is still some hope?
    - There is always hope, but we will need a miracle to find the right donor.
    - Doctor, said Peter, please don’t give in. We’ll find the donor. I am sure we will!
    - I hope so too, for Alice. I am sorry Mr. Jones but I have to go to see the other patients. – Said the doctor.
    - Yes of course doctor. Have a nice evening.
    - Have a nice evening Mr. Jones.
    When doctor L. Stephens walked away, Peter Jones turned around to go and see his little Alice before he left. His wife was standing there, with another box of chocolates, smiling.
    - There is still some hope… I could not go home without seeing my angel, - Said Ofra.
    - Of course there is, let’s go and see Alice.
    They entered Alice’s room, it was really beautiful painted in pink, and the walls were covered in posters and pictures. The little angel was in bed feeling sick after chemotherapy.

    - Mommy, you can’t give me any more chocolates! My teeth are going to fall out!
    - You don’t eat them anyway Alice, said Ofra.
    - I can’t mummy, I’m sorry, I feel too sick to eat anything after chemo.
    - It’s going to be over soon and we are going to go to Disneyland Paris in few months, lied Peter.
    - Mummy, daddy, I am not silly…I know I am dying. I heard the nurses!
    - No one is dying here, we just had a little chat with the doctor and he said, that your health has extremely improved. Peter lied again. Isn’t that true darling.
    - Yes, - said Ofra.
    - Anyway, it is time to go to sleep for little girls, and I am going to read you a bedtime story – announced Ofra.
    - Yes mummy, can you read the one about Pocahontas?
    - Of course, Angel.
    Ofra was reading the story, and praying in her mind that the lie that Peter told little Alice is going to come true. Alice was abandoned as a child, and was adopted only recently by Jones’ family. They had lots of happy memories together, but it was bitter experience since little Alice was diagnosed with leukemia. It was a quick one, and unless a donor was found she was going to die.

    That was last night. The last memory of her parents was so alive! But the parents weren’t. They died that night in a car accident on the way home. The family solicitor arrived in the afternoon to inform little Alice about the tragedy.

    - It’s not fair it’s not fair! I was supposed to die, not them! – Cried Alice; now she had no one. All by herself; to fight against a lethal disease.

    The solicitor, Mr. Sovereign had read the will, and the Jones’ entitled all their riches to Alice. Mr. Sovereign himself was entitled to a nice sum himself once he found an appropriate family to look after Alice. When the Jones’ wrote the will they didn’t know about the leukemia yet, so Mr. Sovereign didn’t know what to do, apart from visiting the little girl from time to time, bringing her some flowers, chocolates and paying the hospital bills.

    * * *

    In the meantime on the other side of the Ocean, another girl’s heart was broken into million pieces. She thought she got over it, but day-by-day the pain was destroying her and she was becoming bitter. She was afraid of ending up as one of those old bitter women that she didn’t like herself.

    A dear friend invited her for a cup of tea.

    - Hello Candy, how are you? – Said Albert.
    - Same old good Albert. How are you, yourself? – Smiled Candy.
    - It hurts me when you lie Candy, you shouldn’t have to. You are my best friend and you should be able to tell me the truth.
    - We both know the truth Albert, but it doesn’t help talking about it, it just makes the matters worse.
    - Ok Candy, let’s try to talk about something else.
    - I totally agree Albert! – Candy winked her eye.
    And so they talked about many things, except Candy’s life. Then Albert got a bit concerned and asked:
    - Candy what are you going to do now? As I understand, you don’t want to stay in Lakewood, but where are you going to go? What are you going to do?
    - I already have an answer to this question. I am sorry I should have told you earlier about this, but there were other things I had to think about and I just simply forgot!
    - So what is it? What are you going to do?
    - Well I applied to work as a nurse in London, St Thomas hospital, in the cardiac unit, and they accepted me!
    - London! Don’t you think it’s a bit strange after… all those memories?
    - Memories do not worry me; otherwise I would have never been able to come back to Lakewood, to Anthony’s rose garden…
    - Yes, I understand Candy, but London was the place…
    - Yes I know. The place where I met Terry, where we spent lots of happy days… Do you want me to carry on?
    - No, I’m fine. Thank you. So when are you leaving – Albert got worried.
    - In one months time.
    - So soon?
    - I don’t think it’s soon. It’s enough time to sort out my life, say goodbye to my friends and pack my suitcases. Or shall I wait another 10 years?
    - No, please no sarcasm today. It is too serious of a matter to be sarcastic about.
    - Ok, then. I am leaving to go to London in one month’s time. Is there anything else you want to know about it?
    - Yes. Where are you going to live? London is a very big city…
    - Well, the hospital will provide me with a room for the beginning and once I know London well enough, I’ll find an apartment to rent near the hospital.
    - I could buy an apartment for you.
    - But I don’t want you to, Albert. I am a grown up girl and I can look after myself.
    - But I am your adoptive father. I am going to buy an apartment for you anyway; there is nothing you can do about it!
    - Oh yes there is! I simply won’t go to live in it. You can’t make me do that!
    - No I can’t but you should look after yourself, and if I’m offering to help you it doesn’t mean that you can’t do it your self, it means I want to help.
    - Ok Albert, I’ll think about it.

    Albert and Candy finished their tea and they went separate ways. Albert had some family business to do, and Candy had meeting with Annie. Candy was rushing to another café in the other end of the town.

    In the meantime Annie was on the phone to Archie, telling him that she missed him already. Never mind that he just dropped her off by the café! Candy ran into the café like a tornado, Annie could see she was angry.

    - I’ll talk to you later Archie, bye, love you! And she turned to Candy.
    - Hi Candy! What’s wrong? It seems like you have been kissed by a polar bear!
    - Oh kissing a polar bear would be nothing compared to this. Hi Annie.
    And they kissed each other on the cheek.
    - So what is it that made you so angry?
    - I just told Albert, that I am going to London and he is driving me mad with his offers to buy me an apartment! It seems like he thinks that I cannot look after myself!
    - Candy – interrupted Annie – you know it’s not that! He loves you like a little sister and he cares about you. He doesn’t want something to happen to you!
    - I don’t care! I am a grown up woman, I know what to do with my life! Don’t you think so Annie?
    - Yes I do, but… since your break-up with… Terry you seemed to be different and we are worried about you!
    - Of course, I’m different! My heart was broken into million pieces and you want me to stay the same? I’ll never be the same. I have changed forever!
    - Candy, please don’t get angry with me!
    - I am not angry with you Annie. Let’s talk about something else.
    - Ok. I have a little present for you. For your trip to England.
    - Oh Annie, you shouldn’t have to.
    - Just shut up Candy.
    Candy kept her mouth shut and Annie gave Candy a beautiful pink box with a gorgeous silk ribbon round it tied into the most complicated bow you’ve ever seen. It seemed like Candy’s eyes were going to jump out of her face!
    - Open it,- encouraged Annie.
    Candy slowly undid the ribbon and took the lid of the box. Inside underneath beautiful soft wrapping paper was a nurse’s uniform. It wasn’t just a uniform. It had “Candy White” embroidered on it in beautiful pink silk thread. That wasn’t it. With the uniform there was a beautiful pink belt with silver buckle made out of angels.
    - I know that girls in England once they become nurses they wear a blue belt, it’s like a symbolic item there. So I thought I’ll design one for you myself.
    - Oh Annie it’s so sweet.
    - I hope you like it. – Said Annie.
    - I love it Annie, it’s the most beautiful nurse’s uniform in the world!
    - You will look after yourself, won’t you?
    - Of course I will Annie. I promise.

    Annie and Candy finished their drinks and cakes. Annie went home, and Candy went to the library to do some preparation for working in the cardiac unit at S.

    Chapter 2