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Short Stories |
An Angel in Disguise |
Author: Zoe Ball |
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For nine-year-old Cassie Johnston, who hadn’t been there since she was born, hospital was a scary place. The leg she had broken falling down the stairs two weeks before hurt dreadfully, despite all the painkillers the doctors gave her. But Jenny comforted her.
It had started ten days- or, rather, nights- ago. She had been lying in her narrow bed, quietly sobbing with pain and misery. Her mother- a busy PA for a local politician- had only an hour each evening to spend with her, and the tiredness would show through despite her best efforts to hide it. Her father, a successful businessman, was away on a trip to Dubai- ostensibly a working visit, though he had shown a remarkable lack of disappointment when he had been told he had to go.
Life had been like this for as long as she could remember. Her nanny, Lisa, had often put her to bed in the evening before either of her parents got home. Not naturally an extroverted child, she made few friends at school, preferring instead to bury herself in her books: she was a clever pupil, cherished by her teachers as an exceptionally quick learner. Knowing no difference, she rarely felt lonely, though she occasionally found herself missing her parents and wishing she could spend more time with them. Lisa, in large part, made up for this- she looked upon her as more of a mother than her own. But Lisa was looking after her one-year-old brother, Tom, and had no more time to spend with her than her mother.
Lying in bed that night, she had been amazed when she heard the soft tread of feet near her. Raising her head, she gazed through tear-filled eyes at a pretty, dark-haired woman dressed in a nurse’s uniform. She couldn’t have been more than thirty, and her gentle, compassionate smile was a balm to Cassie’s aching heart, who had never felt more alone than in the last three days, despite the unwavering kindness of the doctors and nurses who tended her.
‘What’s the matter, my love?’ she asked kindly.
‘My leg h-hurts,’ Cassie answered brokenly, ‘and I miss my mum.’
‘Well, now,’ the nurse replied with a smile, ‘I’m sure she misses you just as much- I bet she’s wishing she could be here with you right now.’
‘She’s not- she never even thinks about me! All she cares about is her job! I could die here now and she wouldn’t care,’ Cassie sobbed, years of buried hurt coming suddenly to the surface.
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In a quiet aside the nurse murmured, ‘So she still hasn’t learnt.’ Speaking directly to Cassie again, she said, ‘Your mum loves you very much, I promise. She’s made mistakes, that’s all- just like the rest of us.’
Cassie didn’t get the chance to reply, as, at that moment, a patient further along the ward awoke and began to cough loudly. A slightly skittish look came over the nurse’s face, and, leaning close to Cassie, she almost whispered,
‘I have to go now, love. But remember what I said.’
As she was straightening up to leave, Cassie asked her, ‘What’s your name?’
‘Jenny,’ she replied after a moment’s pause.
‘Will you come and see me tomorrow, Jenny?’
‘I’ll try, Cassie love, I promise.’
It never occurred to Cassie to wonder how the nurse knew her name.
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The next ten nights were the same- when Cassie couldn’t sleep, Jenny would come and talk to her, listening patiently to her troubles, telling her funny stories to make the child giggle and forget her pain. She was a friend such as Cassie had never known- someone who had all the time in the world for her, who understood her buried fears and didn’t mock her for them, as her loving, but slightly insensitive, father might have done.
One evening, during her mother’s visit, Doctor Henderson was examining her leg.
‘I’m pleased with how this is healing. You’re a strong young lady, Cassie. Won’t be long before you’re fit to go home, I think.’
As he was saying this, he lifted her leg slightly, and, as he did so, it slipped from his grasp. Cassie’s scream was agonized as the pain shot through her.
‘I’m so sorry,’ gasped the shocked doctor, appalled at what he’d done.
A nurse approached, trying to calm her.
‘No!’ shrieked Cassie. ‘I want Jenny! Where’s Jenny?’
The adults stared at each other in bewilderment, shaking their heads.
‘Who’s Jenny, sweetheart?’ asked her mother gently.
But Cassie was inconsolable. ‘Find Jenny, I want Jenny!’
‘Who is she, Cassie?’ asked Doctor Henderson. ‘If she’s here, we’ll get her for you.’
‘She’s the nurse who looks after me at night,’ she replied, a little calmer now.
The doctor and her mother exchanged glances over her head.
‘I’ll try and find her for you now,’ the doctor said, gently drawing her mother outside as he did so.
‘I’ve never heard her mention this Jenny before,’ her mother said once they were safely out of earshot.
‘Nor have I,’ replied the doctor. ‘I know of no nurse in this hospital who goes by that name. Of course, I will check to be sure. In the meantime, she must get some rest.’
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The next day, Doctor Henderson and Cassie’s mother were once again in consultation in the corridor outside the ward.
‘I checked the register, and there are no nurses who go by the name of Jenny,’ the doctor told her.
‘So what does that mean?’
‘I would say, from talking further to Cassie, that she has been having some rather vivid dreams, probably brought on by the medication. Apparently, this woman Jenny comes to her every night, talks to her, and tells her stories until she falls asleep. They are certainly dreams.’
So what can we do?’
‘Nothing. They are evidently not bad dreams, and they will clear up in their own time.
We’ll continue to monitor her closely.’
The next night, Jenny came to her again.
‘Where were you last night? I missed you,’ a tearful Cassie asked her.
‘I’m sorry, my love. I was really busy. There wasn’t time.’
‘The others think you’re not real. They say you’re a dream. Why?’
She hesitated. ‘Because, for them, I’m not real.’ She sighed. ‘Did your mum ever tell you she had a sister?’
‘No. She didn’t have any brothers or sisters.’
Jenny smiled. ‘She did have a sister. That sister was a nurse in this very hospital. But she was knocked over by a car one day, right outside. Everyone tried so hard to save her, but it was too late.’
Cassie was gazing at her intently, the strange intuition that children often have working furiously within her.
‘Are you her?’ she asked after a moment.
Jenny looked steadily back at her. ‘Yes, I am. Do you believe me?’
‘Yes,’ she replied softly.
‘And you’re not afraid?’
‘No.’
‘Your mum and I were always close. It hurt her a lot to lose me. She always worked too hard at that wretched job, and she threw herself into it after the accident. Can you understand that?’
Wordlessly, Cassie nodded.
‘You were only one when it happened- you wouldn’t remember me. You were such a beautiful baby, and you looked just like your mum. She loves you so much, you know.’
‘Why haven’t you gone to heaven?’
Jenny smiled. ‘I’m just waiting. When the time is right, I’ll move on.’
‘Why don’t you tell Mum you’re here? I’m sure she’d want to see you.’
‘I don’t think she’s ready for that, Cassie. Not everyone has a mind as open as yours, you know. Let’s just keep it a secret between us two, okay?’
She nodded quietly. Beneath the dim hospital lights, they talked long into the night, not wanting to let the precious moment pass.
Four nights later, Cassie was due to be discharged the next day. Jenny came to her that night to say goodbye.
‘But when will I see you again?’ Cassie sobbed.
Jenny smiled. ‘I’m always there, right behind you. And one day, we’ll be together again, I promise you.’
‘But I’ll miss you!’
She knelt down before her. ‘Look at me. Have I ever lied to you?’
‘No.’
‘Then believe me when I tell you that we have countless lifetimes together to look forward to. And in the meanwhile, I’ll always be right here, and I love you. So no tears, okay?’
She nodded. ‘I love you too, Auntie Jenny.’
One more embrace, and then she was gone; but the little girl felt her warmth. For the rest of her life, whenever pain or trouble came to her, she felt it again, and the old comfort was there once more.
By Zoe Ball
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About the author:
"I was born in Milton Keynes in 1987, where I have lived nearly all my life. I lived in Kendal, Cumbria for three years, and moved back to MK in November 2006. I have a lifelong obsession with astronomy which started when I was about four and I watched the stars rising at dusk. I have loved them ever since, and I am now a member of Milton Keynes Astronomical Society, where I hold the position of Director of Observations, which sounds much grander than it is!
I am a part-time cashier in Somerfield at the moment, though I am looking for a new, full-time job. I would love to make writing my career, though that is obviously a long way off yet.
I was badly bullied at school, and was removed at the age of seven to be taught at home. Due to domestic troubles, I never had the chance to take any exams, though I think I could have done, but I have just achieved the national test, which is GCSE equivalent, in English, and, hopefully, I will have it in maths in about three weeks.
I have always loved to read, and I try to get as much variety as possible. The only thing I won’t read is chick lit! I am also a complete bibliophile- I keep most of the books I read- my bookcase is overflowing!
I have a passion for ancient mythology, especially Greek and Roman, as well as Middle-Earth- the works of Tolkien are my favourite books. I am also quite a Trekkie, sad as it is! My other loves include Formula 1 motor racing and all things to do with nature.
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