How I Learned to Live Again

Chapter 12

Flying. In my dreams I am always flying. Even before the accident, I'd have these magnificent dreams of me exploring mountain tops and valleys like a bird. Feeling so free that when I woke up I felt chained down. Like I wasn't even able to move freely.

I guess must be a little bit psychic, because I was right.

When I wake up from another one of those dreams, before I have time to reflect, I notice Joanne is standing over me at my bedside.

"Joanne?" I laugh in disbelief. "Why are you here?" I rethink my statement. "Not that I don't want you to be here, it's just-"

She interrupts me with a laugh. "No, I understand. Um..." Her tone gets serious. "I just wanted to let you know that, um." Tears start to well up in her eyes. "My son, Jason? I told you about him." I nod. "Well, he's...in a coma. Something happened to him and they had to put him into a medically induced coma and they think he might die." She trails off and a few tears escape, rolling down her cheeks.

"Oh, Joanne, I'm so sorry," I say. "What happened? Do you know?"

She shakes her head. "They're not sure. His nervous system is extremely fragile from his condition, and they think a virus or disease might've attacked it." She wipes her eyes. "But, uh, anyway. I just wanted to tell you in person."

"God, that's awful," I respond, shaking my head. "That's really terrible. I'm sorry." Joanne smiles gratefully and pats my hand.

"Enough about my problems. How are you doing?"

"Well," I start, "I've been having a lot of therapy which, I'm not sure is doing anything, but it definitely passes time if nothing else...and," I pause, "I met someone."

"Ohmygodtellmeeverythingwhoisitishecute?orshe?" Joanne claps her hands and starts talking at a mile a minute, asking questions so fast I can't understand what she's saying.

"Uh, well, his name is Aron and he's my physical therapist. He's wonderful." I smile just at the thought of him, and Joanne laughs.

"Ah, young love," she says. "I remember my first boyfriend. His name was...uh..." She laughs. "Either Norman or Ivan." She shrugs. "Who knows."

I laugh. "I'm glad you think so highly of him."

"Well, when you find the one you've been waiting for, everyone else kind of fades away," Joanne says solemnly.

I think back to my first boyfriend Andrew. At the time, I thought we were soulmates, that I had found the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

I hope it's not the same with Aron.

"Well, sweetie, I'm gonna go now, okay?" Joanne starts. "It was so nice to see you though, and I'm glad you met this nice boy."

"Thank you for visiting," I say with a smile. "I've had, like, 2 visitors since I got here."

We say our goodbyes and Joanne leaves, a wave of her familiar, flowery scent lagging behind her. I really do admire her. I've come to think of her as almost a second mother. I mean, the number of times she comforted me after a bad dream and held me in her arms rival my own mother.

As I lie there thinking about Joanne, Aron comes in with a huge smile on his face.

"Hey, baby, I have some really good news."

"What is it? Is it...what is it?" I doubt it's what I think it is, but...

"I'm not gonna tell you until you kiss me," he says playfully.
I laugh as he comes over and - literally - sweeps me off my feet and I give him a quick peck on the lips.

"Okay, you got your wish. Now tell me," I demand.

"Well, my dear, guess what you get to do in around two weeks?"
I shrug. "Lie in bed?"

"God. Dark much?" Aron looks at me in faux terror. "And don't you wanna hear the good news?"

I nod ecstatically.

"Okay,drumroll please?" I clap my legs on my thighs as hard as I can. (I can't feel it anyway, so why should it matter, right?)

"Jesus, don't hurt yourself," he says, looking at my slapping. "But anyway, Dascha thinks you should be able to leave the hospital in about two weeks!"

My eyes widen in disbelief. "Seriously? Seriously?" My voice steadily gets louder. "PRAISE THE HEAVENS! I'M GETTING OUT OF THIS HELL HOLE!" I make prayer hands. "THANK YOU HOSPITAL GODS!" Aron laughs at my antics and spins me around in his arms. "Yay Jessa! Whoo!" He sets me in my wheelchair quickly, allowing me to do a victory lap around my room. After an embarrassingly long time doing this, I finally remember the downside.

"Oh," I say softly.

"Hmm?"

"Well...I have nowhere to live. Unless I go to the assisted living place."

Aron ponders for a moment. "You know," he pauses. "I know this is a little bit soon in our relationship, but..."

As he says that, a frantic internal monologue is running in my head. Oh my God. If he proposes. Is he going to propose? I'm 18! I can't get married! Are you serious?
I find myself hoping, even though I know it's unlikely, that he doesn't propose. But, what else is there to say that's so soon in our relationship? Jesus, I hope he doesn't want to have kids or some shit like that.

"Um, sorry, what?" I focus back on Aron.

"Uh. I was saying you could come live with me."

Phew. Wait, what?

"Uh, seriously?" I ask.

"Yeah! Seriously!" And then he clarifies, "Once I got foot surgery and I had to be in a wheelchair for a while, so I know that it's accessible for a wheelchair. And obviously I can make other accommodations."

I laugh in disbelief. "That's really nice of you to offer, Aron. Um. I would love to come live with you." I rethink what I said. "For a while, at least. Until I find somewhere else."

Aron beams at me. "Yay! Now you can make fun of me in the comfort of my own home, too!"

I laugh and punch him in the arm. He cringes.

"Heh. Sorry," I apologize.

He laughs for a moment and then his face gets serious.

"What's wrong?" Aron's usually so smiley. It's disconcerting.

"Nothing, it's just..." he pauses. "We've known each other for what, three months? And you're moving in with me."

I look at him cautiously. "Well, what, then? Do you not want me to?"

Aron shakes his head. "No, I do. I just don't want the relationship to get too serious too quickly, that's all." Then he laughs. "There's no way for me to say that without it sounding really offensive, but I hope you get what I'm trying to say." 

I nod. "Yeah, I understand. I think..." I fade off momentarily, trying to phrase it correctly. "I think it's just, like, in regular circumstances you wouldn't ask me to move in? Because we've been dating less than two months and you don't move in with someone at that point in a relationship, usually," I finish.

"Yeah. Exactly," Aron replies. "You always know what to say, baby." He kisses me gently on the lips and leaves the room. The air of possibility surrounds me as I think of this new chapter about to unfold in our lives together. Who knows what might happen?

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49 reads! I know it's not very impressive, but I'm glad at least some people have read (and hopefully enjoyed) my story. As usual, let me know any critique, comments, or questions you have for me in the comments or in my inbox. Thanks!

-e