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‘Kayla needs an adult’s help to raise the funds,’ Aiden says.
I don’t answer. Kayla is looking worryingly pale and I wonder if I should press the buzzer above her bed and call a nurse.
‘She can’t ask her parents.’
‘Mam can’t know,’ Kayla says, her voice crackling like static on the radio.
‘Kayla wants it to be a surprise for her mam,’ Aiden explains. ‘And Gavin is too stressed out to be any help.’
‘Kayla, you don’t look well,’ I say. ‘I think I should call a nurse, or your dad.’
Aiden stops talking.
‘No,’ Kayla whispers. ‘Water.’
I reach for the jug of water next to Kayla’s bed and pour some into the waiting glass. My hands are shaking as I lift the glass towards Kayla’s lips and she manages several sips.
‘It’s warm,’ she complains.
‘You look better already,’ I say, placing the glass back on the bedside table.
‘We want to try crowdfunding online,’ Kayla says, her eyes closed but her colour improving.
I study her. She seems to have aged years in a matter of weeks. Dark circles hang under her beautiful blue eyes and her cheekbones protrude. Her neck seems longer than ever with no hair to cascade down around her shoulders and she’s painfully thin. My heart hurts.
‘Crowdfunding is where you put your story online. You know, like what’s happening and why you need the money. And thenpeople donate whatever they want. It’s really very cool,’ Aiden says, excitedly.
‘I’m familiar with the idea. Thank you,’ I say. ‘I just don’t think it would work.’
‘Why not?’ Kayla asks.
‘Well, it’s pretty unorthodox. I’m not sure how people would feel about something like this.’
‘People love a sick-kid pity case,’ Kayla says, her eyes open again and colour returning into her cheeks. I wonder how often she wilts like that. So suddenly. It’s terrifying.
‘You’re not a pity case, Kay,’ Aiden says.I do like this boy.
‘You’re the same girl you have always been,’ I add.
‘It’s okay,’ Kayla says. ‘I know the point we’re at. The nurses are extra cheery when they come in to check my blood pressure. And the doctors make silly small talk to hide the fact they’re surprised I’m actually still alive. I know I’m screwed. They know it too. But Mam and Dad don’t know it.’
My heart pinches as I realise Kayla is right. Gavin is so convinced Kayla is going to get better. We all are. I don’t think he’s thought for a moment what might happen if she doesn’t.Oh God…
‘Baking is the only thing Mam loves as much as she loves me. I don’t want her to lose both.’
Aiden suddenly becomes very quiet.
‘You should sit down,’ I say, realising he has gone white.
‘Yeah.’ He flops into the bedside chair and I realise that if what Kayla says is true and she doesn’t have feelings for this boy, it doesn’t stop him being head-over-heels crazy about her.
‘There was a fund a few years ago for a girl about my age to go to the States to try some mental expensive treatment that we don’t havehere. She was honest with people and said it mightn’t even work but people still donated so she could at least try,’ Kayla says.
‘People are generous,’ I agree.
‘And then there was another one where a family of this ten-year-old boy in a wheelchair wanted to take him to Disney because he loves Buzz Lightyear. They raised a fortune and gave the extra money to some charity,’ Aiden says, brightening up again.
‘Well who doesn’t want to meet Buzz Lightyear?’ Kayla smiles.
