making bad decisions," he said. "After the accident, I came to that point. I wanted to stop disappointing my parents. I consider the Romeros parents, too. I wanted to stop being a poor friend who only used people. Humans are…extraordinary. It's a shame that we often forget that, and that we treat each other as anything less than the masterpieces we are."
Mary stared at him, speechless. Mom didn't say anything either.
"I suppose I wanted to start being a better human," Carter continued. "It meant making some difficult choices. Most of the people I was friends with ignore me now. They don't understand what I'm trying to accomplish, so we parted ways. I wish them the best, but I had to start being around people who inspire me to be better. And one of those people is your daughter."
Still, Mary and Mom said nothing.
"I suppose that is a selfish thing to say," he said. "I know it isn't easy for you to trust me. I'm sure Mary doesn't in many ways. But I believe that you trust her, don't you?"
Mom crossed her arms. "Yes."
Mary felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulder grow a little heavier just then.
Carter nodded. "Then I hope that you trust her enough with how she deals with me. I would never take advantage of her, Ms. Phan. I would never want to. I know my word is worth little to you now. But hopefully with some time, it will be worth more. And perhaps we can even be friends as well."
Mary's jaw dangled earthward. She couldn't believe the stuff that had just come from his mouth. Who talked like that?
Mom didn't say anything right away. Then, she uncrossed her arms and placed her hands in her lap. "Well, I must say that I wasn't expecting that. You made some good points. But I want you to know I will watch how you treat Mary. I will watch very closely. I also have some rules that I would like you both to stick to. Dates are in public places only. I don't want Mary to go over to your house, and I don't want you in our apartment."
He nodded. "I understand. And I agree."
Mom nodded as well. "All right then. Now, it's pretty late, so I think you two should—"
"Colette?" Lisa poked her head into the break room. "Sorry, but we have a situation."
Mom rose quickly from the table. "I'll be back," she said and left with the other nurse in a hurry.
Mary and Carter waited for a few minutes. Then, he looked away and wrinkled his brow.
"What is it?" Mary asked.
"I hear something," he said.
Mary listened. She couldn't hear anything but the soft hum of the refrigerator and the coffeemaker in the corner.
Carter stood and left the break room. Curious, Mary followed him down the hall until they came to a closed door. Carter reached for the handle.
"What are you doing?" Mary hissed. "We can't just walk into someone's room without at least knocking."
But he opened the door anyway. There was only one person in the dimly lit room. A boy, completely hairless from cancer treatments, lay on the hospital bed crying softly. Even in the room, Mary could barely hear his whimpers. But somehow Carter had heard him from all the way down the hall. With the door closed.
The boy looked at them. In a weak voice, he asked, "You…heard me?"
Carter nodded.
"Then you're…here to take me…to Heaven?" the boy asked.
Mary's heart cracked straight down the middle. He was so tiny from the disease ravaging his body. She looked over at the clipboard hanging by the door. "Scotty," it said on the patient name line. "Seven," it said for his age.
Carter shook his head. "No."
"But…you're an…angel. Aren't you?" Scotty asked.
"It's not my job," Carter said.
A tear spilled from the boy's eyes. "But I'm hurting."
Carter didn't say anything for a moment. Then, he walked over to the boy's bedside and asked, "Where are you hurting?"
Scotty raised a weak hand and pointed at his tiny belly. "Here."
Gently, Carter placed his own hand over the area.
"Carter?" Mary whispered. "What are you doing?"
"This may hurt more," he said to the boy. "But just for a little while. Are you ready?"
The boy nodded.
Suddenly, Carter's hand began to glow. It was like a fire had ignited underneath his palm.
Scotty gritted his teeth as the glowing intensified. He began to wriggle and arch his back with a sudden burst of strength that he hadn't shown before. The monitors attached to him beeped like