Upon hearing my words, Jonah's behavior shifted dramatically. The surprise was evident on his face, fully aware of my firm resolution to prevent the artifact from being passed to another child. He understood the depth of my experiences—the despair it brought me—and he knew well the artifact's immense, unmeasurable power. Such power came with the risk of causing more issues than it could resolve.

"When was the last time you came to see me?" Jonah asked.

"Just after we graduated from college. It was the day I lost my mother."

"Yes, I remember now. You were still talking about Amanda back then. You even had her teddy bear with you, carrying it around just as she did. Whatever became of that toy?"

I looked in Makayla's direction, where she was holding the teddy bear in a manner that mirrored Amanda's attachment. Jonah caught the silent message in my gaze and smiled, recognizing the significant emotional journey I had undergone. "I never thought you'd part with that bear. But I see a change in you, Sam."

I pulled some documents from my bag and handed them to Jonah. "Please make sure Makayla and her brother have a place they can call home when they're ready to step into adulthood. And, please, don't forget about Whiskers. He might keep to himself, much like I used to, but he'll still need some care and company every now and then."

"Makayla's brother? I'm not certain he'll live long enough to manage the store with his sister."

I placed my hand over him, giving him a warm smile. "I assure you, he will."

"You don't have to sacrifice yourself for someone you have never met," Jonah said.

"You remember when I first met you? Back in Hopeland?"

"I remember."

"You once told me, if I ever came into possession of the pen, that I should save a wish for you. You expressed a desire to be free."

"Yes, but my illness wasn't natural. I wasn't genuinely sick. The reality was my stepfather had been poisoning me over time. The reason behind his actions remains a mystery to me. Given these circumstances, a wish from the pen couldn't have altered my situation."

"But you were almost dead, once," I said, lowering my head and intertwining my hands.

"I need to apologize for the actions I took. The Godmother had informed me that you were caught at the threshold between this world and the other side, on the brink of death due to unnatural causes. In the aftermath of your confrontation with your fears, on that critical night, as the doctors were tending to you, I made a wish on your behalf. Regrettably, the consequences of that wish were far greater than I had anticipated, leading to your removal from your parents' care and our separation from Ashley and myself. At that point, I wanted to part ways with the pen, as I began to understand that for every good intention I had while writing those wishes, a negative outcome must arise to balance every aspect of our lives."

"You never said anything about making that wish...Why?"

"I was scared you'd blame me for everything you went through. To me, you weren't just a bunk buddy; you were the only real friend I had."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Jonah's response was a smile, warm and forgiving, as he placed the pirate hat gently on my head. "Well, mate! Ready to set sail on this new adventure?"

"Absolutely captain!"

I watched Makayla playing around the entrance of the dormitories, Amanda's teddy bear firmly in her hands. "Take me to see Makayla's brother. I want to meet him. She speaks so passionately about him."

"He is a great kid. He reminds me of us back in the village."

As we moved past the reception area, Jonah stopped for a moment, watching the receptionist draw in paperwork. "Claudette, I'll be in the infirmary if anyone comes looking for me."

Claudette looked up, her eyes briefly settling on the pirate hat I was wearing. "Nice hat."

The infirmary, at first glance, seemed modest, comprised of four medical rooms and the single attention of one nurse. "If you haven't picked up on it, we've actually expanded our services to the children. Raising funds has become more challenging lately. Nowadays, we rely heavily on the generosity of the medical community to provide these kids with an opportunity for a normal life."

We paused in front of a door marked with the number 4B. "This is his room."

As we stepped into the room, we were unexpectedly greeted by a jet of water from a water gun.

"Aaron!" Jonah yelled.

The child's head dropped the instant he realized he had splashed the unintended target. "Please, don't be mad at me, Mr. Lumbar. I thought it was my sister entering my room."

I couldn't help but burst into laughter at the scene, quickly grabbing a magazine, rolling it into a makeshift tube, and speaking through it with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Captain! We are under attack, starboard side!"

Jonah, playing along with the sudden shift in the atmosphere, dove behind a file cabinet for cover. "This is our moment, mates! Load the cannons!"

Aaron's laughter filled the room as he continued to spray water in every direction. "You'll never defeat me! I am the lord of the oceans! No ship can survive my wrath!"

In the midst of the chaos, Makayla walked into the room, only to be immediately drenched by her brother's enthusiastic defense.

"Mates! Abandon ship!" Jonah said, laughing at Makayla.

"That was super fun! We should do that again! Please." Aaron said, as his gun ran out of water.

I stared at his eyes, watching his innocence pour out like a mist in the mountains. Aaron, much like Makayla, possessed a pure heart, yet was hindered by an illness that isolated him from the joyful company of children his age.

"Aaron, this is my friend, Samuel," Jonah said, introducing me.

Reaching out, I extended my hand towards him, eager to make a connection. The moment our hands met, a surge of visions flooded my sight, an unexpected journey through moments and memories. Among these, I saw the Godmother, her presence a comforting beacon during the cold, lonely nights, standing vigil by Aaron's side.

"I will get some towels to dry all this water from the floor."

"Thanks, Jonah."

As Jonah exited the room, Aaron's expression shifted. He lowered his head, his fingers twisting together nervously. "I want to say something, but I'm scared. You might laugh at me."

"I won't, I promise."

"I have seen you, in my dreams. It's strange finding you here, in front of me."

"It's good to finally meet you, Aaron. I have heard wonderful things about you."

"Troublesome? May be right the word for me. Wonderful...I will not take that as a fact if it's come from my sister."

I leaned a bit closer, wanting to delve deeper into his thoughts and dreams. "Tell me, Aaron, if you had the chance to get out of this bed and lead a normal life, what would you do?"

Aaron's smile brightened the room. "I have a dream; it's all I think about every day. Even knowing my time might be limited, I still hold onto the hope that I could become a doctor or a scientist, someone who finds cures for these diseases. I want to extend a helping hand to every kid in the world, to give them a chance at a normal life."

Hearing his ambition and pure intent filled my heart with warmth. His voice carried a sincerity that resonated deeply, and his eyes sparkled with a determination that surpassed any I had seen at his age.

"Those are very strong words. There is a lot of commitment and responsibility if you are able to realize your dream."

"I understand. I believe I can do it; I have no doubt about it."

Here was a young soul, embodying hope and determination in its purest form. In my heart, there was no longer any doubt: I had found the ideal recipient for the last wish.