I Hope You Dance! [Jordan Knight]

Chapter 1, Juniper I was heading to the hospital with my dad. To see my sister. Sometimes you never wanted a sibling. Now you wanted the sibling to stay around. Once they grew on you. I never thought I would enjoy being a big sister. I was not a really good one. But now I was trying to be. I was trying to make up for all the lost years before. Because my sister Juniper Marie Wilson was dying. She had colon cancer. At a very young age. For years here in Boston we had been trying to make sure she got the best treatment. But all the treatments had failed her. She was at her last stages. I did not know how to make things right with my sister. I just knew I was going to be there for her. At all costs. Juniper was supposed to be graduating from high school this year. But she had to drop out. Some classmates had come by. No need to go to school when death was knocking at your door. No senior pictures. Or senior party. No planning for prom or for college. I was supposed to go to college. But I dropped out when I found out that June was ill. I came right home when I learned. Mom was upset with me for dropping out. But she understood. I was now twenty-one nearly twenty-two. Junie was only sweet sixteen years of age. She should have her whole life ahead of her. But her world was crashing in around her. Her best friend Hannah was taking things very hard. She was so close with Junie. She went to visit her nearly every other day at the hospital. It was not long when they would give up the fight and send Junie home to die. I was afraid of that. I had been redoing Junie's room to her dream bedroom. My dad was helping me transform her room. So, when she was able to come home again, she would be blown away by the gift. ♡♪♬♪♡ "What is on your mind Rosie?" dad asks me as he makes small talk while we go on the long driveway drive to the hospital. "Junie" I answer him. "what else?" "When are you thinking about going back to college?" dad asks as he changes the subject. "Never" I mutter. I cross my arms. Feeling defensive. "dads are you not glad I came back to help my sister out? She needs me. And she is most important. We should be focused on her not me." "I know that, but I am concerned. What happens when June is not around? Life will go on. Then what will you do?" he points out softly. Life goes on. Then what? His voice echoes in my mind now. "I don't know. I can't think that far ahead dad" I mutter. "I want to help June" "You are. You are the best sister ever" he tries to promise me. "I do not feel like it dad. I never was a good one when I could be" I remind him. "We all feel that way. I always felt like a bad brother. Then when your uncle Carl died in the car crash, I used to beat myself up over that all the time. Until I learned I can't change the past. Only make up for things and live in the future" dad says to me softly. "I know dad" I say. "thanks" I tell him with a smile. I glance out the window as the sun set over the Boston city that night. I was taking over the night shift for mom at the hospital so she could rest. I was more of a night owl then mom was. Mom stayed with Junie in the day. Then I stuck around at night. Dad took over after me. In between when he was not working. He spent all the time he could with Junie. Until we could bring her home to rest. ♡♪♬♪♡ "I wish things were normal. I wish my sister was better" I sigh softly as I glance thoughtfully out the window. "I do to honey" dad wistfully agrees with me. He runs his fingers in his thick blond hair. Dad was from Australia. Mom was from America. She met dad in high school when he was an exchange student. June used to have his same long blond hair. I had more of a strawberry red hair. Because mom had dark hair. Dad had light. We were a mixed blend. Dad was strawberry blond when he was younger. He once took us all over to Australia when we were younger to meet his family. Grandma Wilson used to come over here during the holidays to visit us. June does not recall going overseas. She had been to young to. I loved the country, and I would love to go over there again one day. Maybe even study college overseas one day. "Dad?" I speak up. "Yes?" he asks me. "I would like to go to college. But some where other then here" I tell him. "Where would that be?" he asks as he turns off at our exit. "In your country. Over with grandma. I could even stay with her. Have an adventure. I think when we lose June then I will need to get away from her. Get change" I sigh. "I do not see how I can stay here where everything will remind me of her" I sniff back tears as I say it out loud. He places a hand on my shoulder. "That can be arranged. I know grandma would love to have you over there. Someday we could arrange that." "Thanks dad" I say. "these are just thoughts. I could end up changing my mind" I warn him as I place my jacket back on. It was a little chilly out this fall day. ♡♪♬♪♡ My jean jacket was not that warm. I wished I brought my hoodie with me. The hospital could always be drafty or chilly to. I had on a long-sleeved black shirt. And jeans. Wearing my black dock Martin shoes to. My cross necklace was dangling around my neck. I gave up on god and the fates a long time ago when they told us my sister was sick. We pay to park the car in the hospital parking lot. Dad drops me off in the front first. I always wait for him anyway. He walks in with me to get mom and take her back home for the night. I shiver as the wind blows. Dad is soon walking up the walkway to my side. "Why do you always do that?" he chuckles. "I wanted to wait dad" I say with a smirk. He places an around around my shoulder as we head into the building. St. Joe's Mercy Hospital. I stop at the gift shop. I get June her favorite snack and a little stuffed animal. I was always bringing her something cute. She had not felt like eating much. I was hoping her favorite panda cookies would cheer her up. They had the cute Japan snacks stocked today in the store. She adored them. Then I followed dad out as he got mom a drink and a balloon for Junie. We head to the elevator after we checked in at the desk. Got a name tag then went to the elevator to go to her floor where her room was located at there in the west wing. The door bings then we head out not saying another word. I hear dad's Nike shoes squeak along the floor as we walk on the clean flooring. Someone had washed it just moments ago. It was a little slick. We get to Junes room. Mom had the tv on. June looked frail as she rested in her bed. She was all covered in blankets. She had a little knitted hat on her head. My heart winces at the sight of her pale white skin. Mom glances up. She too looks tired. She had dark circles under her eyes. Dad hands her a drink and they kiss hello. ♡♪♬♪♡ "How is she today mom?" I ask my mother. "She has an upset stomach. She hardly ate. She finally decided to do Make A Wish" she tells me. We had been bugging June to pick a Make A Wish wish. With the foundation. Her school had arranged it. June had felt that she was not well enough to do a wish. But we wanted her last days to be ones she would never forget. We wanted her to do this. We had been bugging her all week to do a wish. I was happy she was going to get her dream wish. "Let me see the paper. What did June pick?" I ask mom. "what is her wish?" "Sorry I already gave the nurse the paperwork. And June said not to tell you what her wish was" mom warns me. "so do not ask her about it when she wakes." "Why?" I wonder. "why can't I know?" I sigh. I set my sisters gifts I got her down on the little table beside her bedside. "Because she wanted you to be surprised at what she picked. You can understand that" warns mom. "do not press her about it today." "I won't bug her about it mom. So not fair" I mutter. This make a wish thing was my idea with her best friend Hannah. And I was the last to know. Leave it to June. "We better get you home you need rests" dad demands to mom. "Sweetie, I am going home to get some sleep. Sissie is here with you" mom softly wakes June from her slumber. June had dark circles under her eyes to. She looked so pained. Machines beeped around us. "Rosie" Junie greets me with a cheery little smile. "How is my girl?" I question her. I hand her a stuffed animal. I place it at her bedside. "I got your favorite cookies. When you are up to snacking" I tell her. "they had them in stock today" "Thank you" she yawns out. "Mom will be back as soon as I can. If anything, bad happens call home right away" mom demands sternly as she looks over at me. "I know what to do mom" I sigh. "If she gets sick get the nurse. Do not try to move her on your own. Here is her puke bucket. She might need it today" mom explains. "Mom go home" sighs June. ♡♪♬♪♡ We laugh. "Sorry, I am worried, I will be back soon" mom tells her. She leans over kissing June on the forehead. "sweet dreams honey" she tells her. "I love you" "I love you to mom" says June. Dad hugs her. And kisses her. "I will be back. Love you Junie" dad tells her. "if you are up to eating tell Rosie, I will get you whatever you want from wherever you want" dad offers. "for both you girls" "Alright dad" says June. "I do not want to eat" she warns him. "Come on honey" dad orders mom out the door. Mom glances back before leaving us. "Overbearing parents" I sigh as I sit beside June. She giggles. "They mean well" she tells me. "I know. Dad was bugging me about college again on the way over here" I tell her. "and I have no clue what I would even major in if I went to college" I ramble on to distract her. "Will you go to college later on? I wanted to go" she softly says. "Hannah and I wanted to be roommates" she wistfully says. "I will one day. I told dad I would like to attend overseas maybe. And stay with grandma" I inform her. "Really? That would be exciting. Dad said grandma was on her way for a visit" says June. "I love her. I can't wait to see her" "Me to. I will be happy to see her. So you made a wish huh?" I ask. "Yes and I am not telling what it was" she sternly warns me. "I know. I won't bug you. I am glad you did it" I praise her as I make sure she is tucked in bed. "Me to. I am glad I did it" she agrees. She yawns. "I need sleep." "Go ahead. I will be here. If you need me. I will watch tv" I tell her. She closes her eyes and nods as she drifts back off to sleep. I hated to see her like this. I wish I could take her place. If I could I would take her place. But I was not given that chance to. To bad. I sigh. I turn off the lights for her. I sit on the uncomfortable chair there in the room. Wondering what her wish was for. And what was going to happen these last days we had with June. I did not know what to expect. I just wanted her last days to be the best days of her life. That was the least we could do for her while we had her with us still. ♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡♪♬♪♡