He had something to do with the fact that she HAD cancer (you can be given cancer by things like the chemicals in cropdusters). Either that or maybe she was mad at him because he had done something wrong before she ended up in the hospital bed. There is also the possibility that she was just scared of how he might react to her being in a hospital bed (like he might cry and make her feel bad.) There are so many possibilities that it is amazing just how much this story could be built on. Like Someone could make a dramatic romance story out of this, a dark story that has ominous and scary parts, or even just a simple story of someone making sure that they didn't have to see their friend worried or sad.
Again have a Merry Christmas,
Miri