— Mary asked.
— I’m sure. And about her treatment. How much is it?”
Mary sighed and named a figure. To Robert, who spent more than that on a dinner at a high-end steakhouse, it was nothing. But to her, working as a cleaner, it was a fortune.
— “I’ll take care of it,” he said simply.
— “I can’t accept that,” Mary shook her head. “It wouldn’t be right.”
— “Think of it as a thank you,” Robert said. “Your daughter is providing the best psychological support my son could have. Right now, that’s what I need most.”
Mary’s eyes filled with tears.
— “Thank you, Mr. Harrison. I don’t know what to say.”
— “Don’t say anything. Just bring Lily.”
After Mary left, Robert sat back down. Pete was still sleeping, breathing slowly. The monitors were steady. But Robert would have sworn something had changed. There was a different energy in the room. Maybe it was just his imagination. Or maybe something bigger was at play.
The day dragged on. Nurses came and went. Meds were administered, labs were drawn. Pete slept and woke. But each time he woke, he seemed a little more present, a little more like himself.
It was nearly dark when Claire finally arrived. She burst into the room like a whirlwind, dropped her bag, and went straight to Pete’s side.
— “My baby!” she whispered, kissing his forehead. “My sweet boy!”
Robert stood up and hugged his wife. They stood there, holding each other, crying together for the first time in a long time. Their marriage had been strained lately—too much work, too little time, too many arguments. But in that moment, none of it mattered. Only Pete.
— “How is he?” Claire asked, wiping her eyes.
— “Sleeping mostly,” Robert said. “But he woke up this morning and talked to me. He asked about a friend.”
— “What friend?”
Robert took a deep breath. It was time to tell her everything. He told her about Lily, the cleaner’s daughter. About how Karen had been taking Pete to the community daycare. About the gold bottle of water. He told her the legend of the old spring and the power of the placebo effect. He told her about the slight improvement in the labs. About how Pete had smiled for the first time in weeks.
Claire listened in silence. Robert expected her to explode, to scream at him for letting a stranger near their son. Но when he finished, she only asked:
— “And you believe in this water?”
— “I don’t know what to believe,” Robert admitted. “The doctors say there’s nothing left to do. That it’s a matter of days. Но this girl is so sure she can help. And our son, he believes her, Claire. He believes she’s saving him. And if his little mind is clinging to that hope… do you want her to keep coming?”
— “I do,” Robert said. “Even if it changes nothing in the end. Even if it’s just a coincidence. Because at least it gives him a reason to fight. And if this is the end, I’d rather he spend his last days believing he’s getting better than knowing he’s dying.”
He couldn’t finish the sentence. Claire hugged him again, tighter this time.
— “Okay,” she said softly. “If you think it’s best, then okay. We’ll try everything. Absolutely everything.”
They sat together, holding hands, until the room was dark. And for the first time since Pete was admitted, Robert felt like he wasn’t alone in the fight.
The evening brought a surprise. Around 8:00 PM, Lily appeared at the door with her mom. The girl was wearing a pink dress that looked new. Her hair was neatly braided, and she held the gold bottle like a treasure.
— “Good evening,” Mary said shyly. “I brought Lily, like you asked.”
Claire looked at Robert, then at their guests, and stood up.
— “You must be Lily,” she said with a smile that tried to be warm despite the tears. “Pete told us about you. He said you’re his best friend.”
Lily’s face lit up.
— “He talked about me? That means he’s better! He only talks when he’s feeling good.”
— “He’s sleeping right now,” Claire explained. “But you can sit with him if you like.”
Lily hurried into the room and climbed onto the stool. She took Pete’s hand and went still, just watching him. Mary stayed by the door, unsure if she should enter.
— “Come in,” Robert said. “Make yourself comfortable.”
— “I don’t want to be in the way,” she replied.
— “You aren’t,” Claire said gently. “Robert told me about your daughter, how she’s been looking out for Pete. It means a lot to us.”
Mary walked in and leaned against the wall. Robert introduced the two women. They exchanged nods. Both clearly felt the awkwardness of the situation—the millionaire’s wife and the cleaning lady. One lived in a mansion, the other in a small apartment across town. But in that moment, they were just two mothers worried about their children.
— “Can I use the water?” Lily asked, looking back at the adults.
Robert and Claire shared a look. Then Claire nodded.
— “Go ahead.”
Lily opened the bottle and slowly poured a few drops onto Pete, whispering something no one could hear. The water dampened his hair and ran down his face. And then, something incredible happened. Pete opened his eyes.
— “Lily,” he said, his voice weak but clear. “You came back?”
— “I came back,” Lily smiled. “And I brought more water.”
— “The magic water?”
