Waiting for a Favor That Never Came

While camping, the five of us accidentally saved a Fae.

In return, it granted each of us one favor, with two rules: a favor could only be used for someone else, and only one could be claimed every six months.

When my best friend, Madison, injured her ankle before a figure skating competition, I gave her my favor.

"Please heal her ankle. Let her skate again."

The Fae granted my wish.

The next day, a speeding truck hit me and shattered my spine, leaving me paralyzed.

I begged my older brother, Daniel, to use the next favor to heal me. He refused.

"Madison needs a place in the elite training group at a prestigious skating club. Your recovery can wait."

He used his favor to secure her a spot.

Six months later, my childhood friend, Lucas, used his favor to erase the heartbreak Madison felt after her boyfriend dumped her.

Another year passed. Years in bed left me with a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

Only my boyfriend, Ethan, and Madison had yet to use their favors.

I clutched Ethan’s hand. "Please. I don’t have much time left."

He hesitated. "Madison has worked her whole life for this. The U.S. Figure Skating Championships could make or break her chance of making the Olympic team."

Then he used his favor to guarantee her victory at Nationals.

Ethan promised Madison would use her favor to save me six months later.

But I wouldn’t live that long.

My doctor had given me seven days to live.

...

"Alice, do you have to look at me like that?"

Ethan walked into my hospital room carrying a bouquet of sunflowers.

Madison's favorite.

He didn't even ask how I was feeling. He simply pulled the dead white lilies out of the vase beside my bed and replaced them with the fresh flowers.

"I already made the wish," he said, adjusting a stem. "There's nothing I can do about it now."

I stared at him.

Not once had he asked whether I was in pain. All he cared about was explaining why he'd chosen her again.

"Madison has been training for this championship for years," he continued. "The U.S. Figure Skating Championships could determine whether she gets a shot at the Olympic team. I couldn't let her lose that opportunity."

My throat felt tight. Even speaking took more effort than I had left.

"Ethan, the doctor was just here."

He finally looked at me. I nodded toward the report on my bedside table.

"The clot has spread. It's putting too much strain on my heart. He said I have seven days. Maybe less."

Ethan glanced at the paperwork, then let out a frustrated breath.

"Oh, come on, Alice. Not this again."

I blinked at him. "Not what?"

"Every time Madison gets something, you suddenly have another medical emergency. You told us you were dying last month, too. You're still here."

"Because the doctors have been keeping me alive."

"Doctors always prepare for the worst. That doesn't mean you should use every diagnosis to make us feel guilty."

I wanted to argue, but my chest hurt too much.

"I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. I'm scared."

For a moment, Ethan said nothing.

Then he sat on the edge of my bed and softened his voice.

"Madison is next in line to use her favor. We've already talked about it. She'll use it to fix your legs. You'll walk again, Alice. Maybe even better than before."

"That's six months away."

"Then we'll wait six months."

He said it so casually.

Before I could answer, the door swung open.

"There's my favorite people!"

Madison Reed hurried inside, dressed in a pristine white cashmere outfit.

The ankle she'd injured before her skating audition had healed completely.

She came straight to my bedside and wrapped both hands around mine.

"Alice, sweetheart. Ethan told me what happened. Please don't be upset with him. This is all my fault."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I even went back to the place where we met the Fae. I begged it to give your favor back, but nothing happened."

I looked down at her hands.

Her nails were freshly manicured, her skin smooth and unmarked.

My own hands were covered in dark bruises and needle marks from months of hospital treatments.

"Madison, let go."

My voice was barely above a whisper.

She immediately pulled away, looking hurt.

Ethan's expression hardened.

"Seriously, Alice? She's been worried sick about you. She even canceled practice to come here, and this is how you treat her?"

I looked at him, then at Madison.

"She came all this way, and she still thinks I'm going to be fine."

"Don't say that!" Madison protested, her eyes filling again. "You can't keep talking like you're dying. You'll get better. You have to."

I almost smiled.

If only wishing made things happen.

Madison suddenly seemed to remember something. She opened her handbag and pulled out a printed invoice.

"Oh, Ethan, I almost forgot. The club is arranging the championship celebration, and the bakery needs a deposit for the custom seven-tier cake. It's $1,200."

She gave an embarrassed little laugh.

"I just paid for extra ice time and coaching, so I'm a little short. Alice, didn't you have some money put aside for a home health aide?"

She turned to me with an apologetic smile.

"Would you mind lending it to me? I'll pay you back as soon as I get my prize money."

I stared at her.

That money was supposed to cover my care and the medication I'd need during what might be the last few days of my life.

Before I could answer, Ethan was already opening my bedside drawer.

He found my bank card beneath a stack of medical bills.

"Ethan, don't."

He ignored me.

"What's the big deal? Madison will pay you back."

"That's for my treatment!"

I tried to sit up, but my body wouldn't cooperate. A violent coughing fit seized my chest. Blood stained the tissue at my mouth, and the monitor beside me erupted into a shrill alarm.

Ethan barely glanced at it.

He handed my card to Madison.

"Here. The PIN is Alice's birthday."

Madison's expression brightened immediately.

"Thank you! You're the best, Ethan."

Then she turned back to me.

"Don't worry, Alice. Once I win Nationals, I'll pay you back with interest. And I'll bring my gold medal straight here so you can be the first to see it."

She gave me one last cheerful wave before leaving.

I watched the door close.

Ethan stood there for another moment, looking more annoyed than concerned.

"Can you please stop making everything so difficult?" He picked up his jacket. "I have practice at the rink tonight. I probably won't be home."

I said nothing.

He paused at the door, apparently remembering that he was supposed to be my boyfriend.

"If you're feeling better by then, I'll take you out for those crab cakes you love. We haven't had a proper dinner together in ages."

Then he left.

I lay motionless, gripping the bedsheet as another wave of pain rolled through my chest.

A few seconds later, I heard his voice in the hallway.

The irritation was gone. His tone was warm, almost tender.

"Maddie, wait up. Don't walk so fast. Watch your step."