Arguments between Angela and Tyler raged for a couple days almost nonstop. In fact, the only time they didn’t argue was in the presence of their daughter or when one or both of them slept.
Following the bitter conflict however, Doctor Fogg was contacted. Lengthy discussions followed the contact, including a personal meeting with the grey haired man in his early fifties. The meeting was held at the very facility, Harborne House, that Julia has now been transferred to.
Harborne House is a former estate that following the sale by its previous owners was purchased by Delta LLC to serve as one of the pharmaceutical giant’s research sites. However, it is not only a research site but also a fully equipped medical facility capable of meeting any and all of Julia’s needs for the duration of her time here. Whether that is the successful expunging of her advanced cancer or the care she will receive up to and including her death.
Doctor Fogg, the grey eyed one hundred and seventy eight centimetre tall head of Harborne House, seems confident that his revolutionary new drug and the accompanying procedure will be a success capable of saving Julia from further deterioration and death.
Unfortunately, because the estate is a private facility owned by a massive corporation that can, is and has been affected by industrial espionage, Angela and Tyler are not permitted to reside on the estate with their daughter. However, they are permitted to visit their daughter as often as they wish. With the security personnel for the estate having been given the Chantal’s details, including pictures, so they are known to all on-site staff.
That is not to say that such limitations have gone down well with Angela especially who does not like the idea that she and her husband cannot stay with their daughter for what could very well be the final weeks of her life. Tyler, while not thrilled by the idea either, has reasoned that if this procedure does indeed save their daughters life, and he wholly believes that it will, then they will have plenty of time as a family to not only make up for not being at their daughters side twenty four seven, but to also create fantastic and happy memories for many many years into the future.
So with that settled alongside all the formalities that come with paperwork, non-disclosure agreements and other such legal matters; Julia is now settled into her new room.
“So what do you think kiddo? Is this place alright?” Tyler asks as he stands in his daughters’ new room located within the walls of what is her new, temporary he hopes, home at Harborne House.
Julia nods enthusiastically but says nothing as she sits in the state-of-the-art hospital bed.
“You sure Jay? If you don’t like this place we can get out of here.” Angela says wanting to be certain that Julia is fine with being here and not just going along with what is going on because she thinks she should. How Angela will get her daughter out of here she hasn’t a clue, but she’s the girl’s mother and will do anything for her daughter.
“I’m sure mummy. This place is amazing. And nothing like the hospital.” Julia admits before smiling broadly at her mother.
The girls smile lights up the already brightly lit room with its enormous long windows and welcoming under floor heating.
“See Ange, nothing to worry about.” Tyler remarks only to get a quick damning glance from Angela that only he catches and was meant to. It’s why he quietly clears his throat and then looks at his watch only to find that they need to get going as visiting hours are almost over.
Angela catches her husband looking at his watch and quickly glances at her own, while keeping her focus on her daughter. Her heart sinks to see the time.
A second after Angela gently flicks down on the end of Julia’s nose. The nine year old giggles as Angela stands and straightens her rucked up clothes.
“Is it that time again?” Julia asks looking down, the smile having disappeared from her face.
“Afraid so kiddo.” Tyler replies looking at his daughter’s downtrodden expression.
His eyes flick up to look at his wife, who is focused entirely on their daughter. He can see the pain in Angela’s face but knows just what it feels like as he too hates this part. It never gets any easier, even with all the hope he has that Julia will make it out of this now that she is here at Harborne House.
“I love you very much Jay.” Angela says before she wraps her arms around her daughter and pulls her close to give her a big hug.
Tyler moves round to join them and wraps his own arms round his girls before uttering, “We’ll be back soon, I promise. OK kiddo?”
He can barely fight back the tears as he hears Angela sniff over and over evidently and unsurprisingly also struggling to contain her emotions.
“Yes daddy. I love you.” Julia mutters before Tyler and Angela pull back, gaze upon their daughter, say goodbye once more and then slowly depart, waving furiously, as they leave Julia alone in her room.
It breaks both their hearts to have to go, but it’s what they agreed to and now that they are out in the corridor they are joined by Doctor Fogg who was waiting for them so that he can escort the couple through the massive stately home that they, as yet, do not their way around.
As they trundle down the corridor Angela turns her mind to things other than the pain of having to leave her daughter behind. And that comes in the form of her paying attention to her surroundings and what is around her. Or to be more accurate, what isn’t around that should be. It’s something that has only now just dawned on her and why she feels it necessary to ask, “Where are the other children? I haven’t seen anyone else.”
Doctor Fogg replies matter of factly, “Julia is the first patient to arrive, but rest assured there will be many more children like her here soon. They are just coming from much further afield.” His reply comes just as the trio reach the grand entrance hall of Harborne House.
Without delay Doctor Fogg wishes them a both safe journey and then departs so that they can show themselves the rest of the way out seeing as they know their way from where they now are.
“Something doesn’t feel right.” Angela mutters now that Doctor Fogg is out of earshot.
“You’re being paranoid Ange. This is the best place for Julia. She has a real chance at a long life with the treatment they’re offering here. So we should run with it.” Tyler replies having heard his wife’s muttering and feeling the need to put it to bed before she starts to overthink, as is her habit.
Angela accepts her husband’s reasoning, begrudgingly, before they turn and then vacate the entrance hall heading toward their car.
Simon A Jackson - Writer 