Jason wiped his eyes and then slapped his knees. "Welp! My turn is done. Who's next?"
Everybody glanced towards Keisha, who was now seated in a chair across from Jason near Stanlee's chest. Her eyes solemnly stared at Stanlee's faint rise and fall.
She glanced up, "I'm... I'm not... ready."
Luke nodded, "That's alright, Keish, take your time."
KNOCK KNOCK
Everybody turned to find a bald-headed girl, no older than ten, holding a basket of candies and Easter eggs. In the background were a nurse in green scrubs and a woman who rested her head on the shoulders of the man standing beside her, who could only be the little girl's parents.
The little girl beamed.
"Hi, everyone! My name's Madison! You can call me Maddie for short!"
She held up the basket proudly.
"It's my birthday today! Mommy and Daddy gave me all this candy..."
She looked around the room before smiling even wider.
"...but hospitals can be really sad. So I wanted to share it with everybody."
Jessica got up from her seat and hugged the girl. "Thank you so much, Maddie. It's people like you that make this world a lot brighter!"
Madison blushed, "Y-You really think so?"
Jessica nodded, "Yup. Never change, Maddie."
Maddie beamed, "You got it, boss!"
Jessica snickered, "Boss?"
Madison shrugged, "Aren't you like the leader of that group?"
Jessica shook her head with the biggest grin, "Not even. I'm not cut out for all that."
Maddie crossed her arms, "Hmph! Well, a leader always greets the princess first. You came to me first."
Jessica and the parents snickered. The nurse shook her head with a wide smirk.
Maddie swiveled her head from her parents to Jessica. "What? It's the truth! Kindness will save the world!"
Jessica quickly picked five things out of Maddie's bag. "You're right, Madison. Thanks for the candy. The sun and moon got a new rival. You're the new star in town."
She bowed, "That's what princesses do. I hope your friend comes back fully healed!"
Maddie skipped off down the hallway with her parents and the nurse in hot pursuit.
Jessica turned around and handed each of us a heart-shaped chocolate. Keisha stared at it like it was a syringe. Luke wolfed it down quickly. Jason and I both stored it for later.
Jessica stared intensely at the pink Easter egg she got from Maddie. She smiled as she glanced towards Jason.
"I guess I'm up next," Jessica said brightly.
Jason nodded, rising out of his chair. "All yours, Jess."
Jessica and Jason switched seats. Jessica took a deep breath.
"Hey Stan, it's me, Jess. This little girl came in with a basket full of candies, wishing us and you the best."
Silence filled the room, the heart monitor beeping at a steady rate.
Jessica chuckled softly. "She had an Easter egg in her little basket. I just couldn't help myself. I grabbed it, not because I wanted what was inside, but because of the goofy memories."
Everybody in the room perked up. Jason simply leaned back against his chair with a faint smile, already knowing where this story was going.
Jessica put the egg in Stanlee's hand. "Remember last year when we had the school-wide Easter egg hunt?"