Page 97 of The Storyteller of Krakow

‘I’ve already done that.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’ve been taking double the amount.’

He sighed. ‘That’s not the right way to do things, Lena. I’ll write you a new prescription and notify Joanna to keep an eye on you.’

He left quickly, and I was glad for that. I couldn’t bear to hear him tell me what to do, how to look after myself while, let’s face it, I was dying. Not that I would tell anyone – not out loud anyway.

A familiar face, Kasia, appeared at my doorway. ‘All right to come in? There are a few of us.’

I waved her in and Piotr and Hana followed.

‘Joseph said he’ll pop by tomorrow,’ Kasia said, and I couldn’t help but notice her smile.

Joseph, the American, who had talked to Kasia, then bumped into her in the street. Joseph, who made Hana laugh when he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Joseph, who looked after the children when Kasia was studying for her diploma in social work. Joseph, who was patient and kind with young Piotr. With all of us.

I didn’t question her. I knew through years of practice, you have to be patient and let someone tell you their story when they’re ready.

‘I brought you this.’ Hana gave me a card she had made, full of glitter and mostly pink. ‘Pink because it is your favourite and mine too.’

‘Well,’ I said, ‘isn’t this lovely. When I look at it, I will think of you.’

She smiled.

‘Say, open that drawer there,’ I told her. ‘There’s something in there for you.’

Hana did not need to be told twice and quickly opened my bedside drawer, pulling out a small blue velvet pouch.

‘Look inside,’ I said.

She did, and pulled out a gold necklace, a coin dangling from it, the imprint of a bear’s face etched onto it.

‘It’s like yours, Lena!’ she yelled, immediately making Kasia put it around her neck.

‘It is mine,’ I said.

‘Oh, no, Lena. You don’t have to do that,’ Kasia said.

‘I do. And now it is yours,’ I told Hana. ‘He’ll keep you safe.’

She nodded solemnly at me, then pressed her thumb and forefinger into the coin just as I had done over the years.

‘And for you’ – I nodded at Piotr – ‘look under the bed.’

Piotr did as he was told and drew out a chess set. It was chipped in places, and the white king was missing his crown.

‘It was my brother’s,’ I said. ‘I thought, years ago, it had been stolen. But when I came to sell the house, I found it in the attic. My father probably put it there. But now this is yours, from one Piotr to the next.’

Piotr looked to Kasia as if waiting for her to say it was okay to accept it. She nodded, then smiled at me.

‘I’m afraid I don’t have any gift for you, Kasia,’ I said. Which was a blatant lie. She’d find out in time what I had left her in my will. She’d use the money for good. ‘Although you can have all my books,’ I added. ‘There are some good stories in there.’

‘I don’t need a gift,’ Kasia said. ‘I have you.’

‘Indeed you do,’ I told her. ‘Now, tell me, how is the adoption process going?’

Kasia and the others left an hour later, after she’d told me how the adoption was indeed going smoothly. It seemed my suggestion for her to do it had worked a treat and I felt like I had achieved something – bringing them all together, making them happy.