Wish 143 2009

David Sam Holland, a 15-year-old in the Cancer ward of a children’s hospital, is asked by a Dreamscape Charity representative about his biggest wish. He makes a bold, blunt request: his wish is to lose his virginity before he dies. The request shocks the representative and creates a minor media stir, which unsettles a hospital Priest who worries about the moral implications. David remains unwavering, insisting that losing his virginity is all he desires, not love or romance.

The situation prompts a stark confrontation between longing and faith. The Priest tries to steer him toward the idea that sex could be about love, but David again makes his position clear: safety, dignity, and a moment of human connection are what he seeks, not a romance. The tension between hope and despair threads through the hospital corridors as the story unfolds.

David later reconnects with his ex-girlfriend, Amy Chanel Cresswell. She confesses that she thinks of him often but is now dating someone else. She leaves a letter for him, which he pockets unread, and he slips away from the hospital to chase a desperate plan. In a red-light district, he tries to solicit a prostitute, only to be redirected by the woman toward using the money to buy something meaningful for his mother. The moment tips into chaos as he becomes overwhelmed, throwing bricks at passing cars until the police detain him. At the police station, the Priest questions his actions, and David bluntly explains his motive: “I wanted to see how low I could go.”

Back at the hospital, the Priest reads Amy’s unopened letter. In it, Amy explains that while she is touched by the idea of him, she cannot go through with it. She also writes that she hopes he gets better and, when he does, she believes he’ll find a real, loving partner. The Priest recognizes a grim truth that Amy does not: the cancer is spreading, and “getting better” may not be possible.

That night, the Priest unexpectedly retrieves David and takes him on a motorcycle to see a prostitute once more. He tells the girl that she is kind and gently reminds David that he does not have to do anything he doesn’t want to do. Inside the encounter, David speaks with a touch of vulnerability. The girl asks what he wants to do, and he asks her what she wants to do in return. She admits she has never been asked that before. She reveals her own scars, and David explains the medical scars he bears from treatment, while she shows hers. She reassures him that he is handsome and asks whether anyone touches him beyond doctors who monitor his vital signs. David says he is touched only by the medical staff, so he asks the girl to lie with him and simply hold him, which brings him to tears as she offers comfort.

The Dreamscape Charity representative returns, asking if there are any wishes left. A much calmer and more content David responds that he doesn’t need anything else. The representative shares a story about a child who chose a simple fishing trip with his uncle over a grand meeting with a sports team, illustrating that small, meaningful moments can matter more than grand gestures. With that, the rep leaves, and the film centers on a quiet realization: the genuine connection he sought has been found in the friendship and support of the Priest.

In the end, David discovers a deep, sustaining bond in companionship rather than a single act. He and the Priest spend a day together clay pigeon shooting, sharing a peaceful, uncomplicated moment that underscores the healing power of friendship in the face of illness. The story holds to a restrained, humane tone, portraying pain and desire with honesty while highlighting the importance of care, empathy, and human connection.