My Friend the Stranger

My Friend the Stranger-Part 6

Over the course of the next few days, Alex and I came to be good friends. I saw him a lot in physical therapy and sometimes we would visit each other's rooms. He respected my privacy whenever I had guests, but I couldn't hold out the same curtsey towards him. He never had any family come in, no concerned parents or loud obnoxious siblings. I wanted to ask him about who he had in this world, but I didn't want to make him sad. So we avoided talking about the subject altogether.

We would help each other with encouragements while the other tried to walk; each of us grasping the wooden beams with shaky hands. We spoke of things school and many other random topics.

"So what do you like to do other than prancing around with horses?" He asked suppressing a smile. I glared at him, but answered all the same.

"I play tennis. Does that count?"

"Of course."

"I like to go camping, and um...oh yeah, I like to read occasionally." He cocked his eyebrow at that one.

"I wouldn't take you for a reading kind of girl." Alex commented.

"Ouch. That hurt." I frowned at him jokingly.

"No, It's not a bad thing, I like to read too, I just wouldn't have figured you to be a book worm."

"I wouldn't have figured you to be one either." I replied. He considered for a moment.

"I guess you're right."

"I usually am." I grinned.

"Oh Okay." He said sarcastically.

"But what about you? What do you do in your free time?" I'm pretty sure he sensed that I wanted the topic to be averted from me.

"I'm a soccer geek. Best sport of all time. I'm pretty outdoorsy. I liked doing stuff with my Uncle, like snowboarding, and surfing. I love to surf. I like traveling to places, but that has kind of lost its edge."

"Why?" I asked completely absorbed.

"I dunno." He shrugged his shoulders, and then winced. I could tell he was lying, keeping something from me.But I couldn't make him tell me anything he didn't want to. I let it go and pursued a different subject.

"So your Uncle, what about him? I haven't seen him around...?" I trailed off suggestively. I was being cautious, I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I failed miserably.

"He died a little while ago." His voice was soft and quiet. I reached out and put my hand on his.

"I'm sorry about your loss." I looked him directly in the eye. I really was sorry. Then I pulled my hand away to myself. His mouth upturned in half a grin.

"Its okay." His nurse called him over. He looked up towards her than back at me. I was glad that she had saved us from an awkward moment. "See you later?" He asked almost unsure.

"Of course." I smiled. This time, he couldn't help but smile back.