The Man Who Waited vs. The Man Who Wasted novel Chapter 504

Jocelyn felt a surge of protectiveness. "I'm going to make sure you get better. And once you're healthy, you're going back to school."

"You don't have to." For a thirteen-year-old, Nina spoke with a tragic, world-weary maturity. "I know you're not a distant relative. You're just a nice lady trying to help me, right?"

Before Jocelyn could answer, Nina continued, "I'm already so grateful you're paying for my treatment. I don't even know how I'll ever repay you. I can't let you pay for my school, too. When I get better, I'll get a job, and I'll pay you back piece by piece. Even though... I know my treatment costs a lot of money, and I might never be able to pay it all off, I still want to try."

Jocelyn's heart broke. She opened her arms. "Come here. Give me a hug."

Nina slowly leaned into her embrace. Jocelyn felt nothing but sharp, fragile bones. The girl was dangerously thin.

"Listen to me, sweetheart," Jocelyn whispered. "I don't want your money, and I don't need you to repay me. If you really want to thank me, you just have to grant me one wish. Can you do that?"

The little girl nodded against her chest. "Okay. What's your wish?"

"My wish is for you to be brave. Fight this illness, get better, go back to school, get into a great college, and live a wonderful life."

A glimmer of hope finally sparked in Nina's hollow eyes. After a long silence, she whispered, "I'll try my hardest to make your wish come true."

Jocelyn rubbed her frail back. "That's a good girl."

"Sister."

"Yeah?"

"You smell like a mom."

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