[ WP ] `` You may have one wish granted . '' `` I want all my debts cleared . '' `` How much do you owe ? '' `` You misunderstand . My debts are not monetary . ''

“ You may have one wish granted. ” The Genie said, with a smile. But, even before she said that I knew what I wanted. 
 
 I only had one wish all these years. “ I want my debts cleared, ” I told her firmly. 
 
 “ Well, sweetheart, that depends on how much you owe. ” She said. 
 
 I responded with a chuckle, and she was visibly taken aback by my reaction, “ Oh, no you misunderstand, ” I said, “ My debts aren ’ t technically… monetary. ” 
 
 “ Oh. ” She replied, still confused. 
 
 I took out a worn out, brown envelope from my bag. “ Lisvane Presbyterian Hospital ”, it says across it. The Genie opened it and took out its contents. She looked through pages and pages of medical papers. 
 
 “ I need you to find her family for me, ” I told The Genie rather impatiently, as she was still scrutinising the contents of the documents, “ I need to settle my debt. ” 
 
 “ Well, this would certainly take a while, ” she said, “ But, I will do my best, and I will be in touch when we ’ re able to locate her family ’ s whereabouts. ” 
 
 “ Thank you very much. This would mean the world to me. ” 
 
 *** 
 
 I ’ ve only ever known her name: Chamomile. Yes, as in the kind you ’ d order for tea. They called her Millie, my sister told me, as she sat by my hospital bed a few weeks after my surgery. I thought it was a beautiful name, and I regretted never having the chance to meet her. 
 
 When I was ill, I had never wanted to use my wish I had from The Genie. Truth be told, I was too stubborn, and I was in denial. I didn ’ t want to face the fact that I was a ticking time bomb. I wanted to believe that someday I would be able to be defused. I thought that making a wish means that I would have given in and I've officially let this chronic illness be a part of me. 
 
 Since that fateful surgery 10 years ago, I have never been in my worst state anymore. I ’ ve accepted that I ’ m never going to be 100 % cured. Not until someone makes a significant medical breakthrough. I ’ m still going to have to deal with flares, and I will still have relapses and episodes. But, I ’ ve never been as weak as I was before. 
 
 When The Genie told me I could still use my wish — even 10 years after they first contacted me — I decided that this is the right time. I need to settle my debt. I owed Millie my life. 
 
 *** 
 
 The Genie found Millie's family a couple of months after my visit. They told me that Millie ’ s father had passed away long ago, unfortunately, but her mother now lives in a nursing home in the outskirts of town. I called up the nursing home and asked to see her during visitation hours the next day. 
 
 When I got there, the nurse at reception greeted me warmly. “ You ’ ve come at a perfect time, actually, ” she said as she led me to the dining hall, “ We ’ re celebrating her birthday today. She would be thrilled to see you. ” 
 
 I was quite taken aback by this. This wouldn ’ t be an ordinary meeting. Besides, I don ’ t know how she would react to seeing me. I don ’ t know if it would make her happy, or sad or if she would resent me. 
 
 When we reached the dining hall, the party was in full swing. Coltrane was playing through the speakers, and a group of about 20 residents were sitting in one long table. There was cake, party hats and streamers hung around the room. I never thought a nursing home ’ s atmosphere could be this lively. 
 
 “ She loves Coltrane, ” the nurse told me, “ Big fan. ” 
 
 She comes up to an elderly woman with glowing white hair and a tiara on her head. She had make up on, looking classy as ever. “ Charlotte, someone is here to see you, ” the nurse told her. 
 
 I came up to her, still trying to figure out what to say. My thoughts all jumbled up, and all I could say was, “ I ’ m Lydia, ” I told her, “ Lydia Townsend. ” Immediately after I told her my name, tears welled up in her eyes, and she pulled me into a tight hug. I didn ’ t stop the tears from coming this time. 
 
 “ Oh my, ” She said as she was still in my embrace. My heart must have been beating fast because she then asked, “ Is that her, I hear? ” 
 
 “ Yes, ” I said, still not letting go, because I know that the only greatest present she could receive on her birthday, is to hear Millie ’ s heart beat again. 
 

