Page 71 of When We Were Friends
‘Mum. Please never call it that again,’ he groaned.
A man in a wheelchair passed the four women and went through the hospital’s doors that opened automatically.
‘You can’t blame me for taking it easy after three weeks’ backbreaking filming,’ said Tiff.
‘What, eating delicious film set catering? I saw a programme about it once,’ said Morgan, a twinkle in her eye.
‘As well as romancing Joe,’ added Emily.
‘He came over to sightsee for a weekend whilst I filmed; we hardly saw each other!’ Tiff protested.
Morgan looked at Paige and they both shook their heads in an affectionate manner. Morgan was glad Paige had finally seen her doctor. She and Felix had been referred. Within a few weeks, they’d find out if there was really a problem. Paige and Felix had also invited Morgan and Olly over for lunch. Yes, it was awkward. Once or twice, Morgan had snapped. But as Felix talked, slowly the heart palpitations steadied. Felix was good with Olly. Didn’t push. Didn’t shy away from the fact he’d fucked up in the past. In light of everything new she’d learned about Felix, Morgan reckoned he had a gift too – resilience.
Morgan gazed past Emily’s shoulder into the distance, and three figures stopping outside a café. Mlle Vachon’s arm was linked with Felix’s. He had his arm around Olly’s shoulders. Olly turned around and stared. He gave a wave in the air. Morgan waved back, then he and the other two went in, disappearing from view. Morgan, Paige, Emily and Tiff would meet them there after the appointment.
Morgan looked at her friends, one by one. ‘I nearly forgot.’ She delved into her rucksack and pulled out four boxes, kept one for herself and handed out the other three. They opened them up and held the silver necklaces in the air, each of them bearing a tree. Sunshine glinted off them.
‘These are like the leaf necklaces we bought from Afflecks for our fourteenth birthdays,’ exclaimed Tiff.
‘Except we’ve each grown a few branches since then,’ said Morgan.
The others gave her a hug and then helped each other put them on.
‘Right. Let’s do this,’ said Morgan. ‘The sooner I’m in, the sooner I can put Olly’s mind at ease.’
‘And your own,’ Paige murmured. ‘You don’t have to pretend with us.’
They entered the reception area and Morgan breathed in the smell of disinfectant. Many hospitals in China didn’t have a fourth floor, where her appointment was today, because in Cantonese-speaking countries, the word four sounded like the word death. But in English, it reminded her of more positive words, such as fortitude. Formidable. Forgiveness.
They said friends were the family you choose, but to Morgan, it was more elemental than that. The Secret Gift Society had sounded like an adventure novel, fantasy even, but not one of the four flew, had super strength or could shape-shift like molten metal. That didn’t mean an indescribable force, a bit of magic, like that of the hazel tree, hadn’t held them together. Oh, they’d been placed in the same tutor group back in Year Seven, but over twenty other pupils had been in it too. Mother Nature didn’t disclose all her tricks, and for once, logical Morgan didn’t need an explanation as to why she and the other three had been drawn together then, and again now, why they’d never been able to forget each other.
Logic. Kindness. Empathy. A sixth sense.Everyone had a gift unique to themselves, Mother Nature made sure of that. But it was up to each person to find out what theirs was, and then to use it for the good of others – and themselves.
‘You look great,’ whispered Emily.
‘I’d be scared in your position,’ said Tiff, ‘but we’re by your side.’
Paige squeezed Morgan’s arm. ‘I’ve a feeling everything is going to turn out fine.’
Morgan looked at her friends, did the maths and smiled. Yes, it all added up.
