Larry Stylinson - Disability short stories

Choices (Acquired brain injury/ Tetraparesia - Louis)

My mum shakes me awake in the morning.
Do I want to get up? No.
Do I want 5 more minutes? For starters.
Do I want to roll over and keep sleeping? Definitely.
I don't feel well, I'm tired, I want to stay in bed today.

She pulls the covers.
Well then, let's wake up anyway. We have to go see some family, apparently.

She starts getting my pyjama off.
Do I want her to see me naked right now? No? Well... Too bad, I already am.
She's already seen me too many times to count anyway, and thankfully I didn't wake up with a bit of a hard problem on today. That's always awkward.

If I have to go out, I want the black jeans with my favourite rainbow t-shirt and the red jacket.

Apparently, we are in a rush because I'm soon sat in my wheelchair wearing grey sweatpants with a plain t-shirt and a hoodie. The pants are crooked on my hips and the t-shirt has an itchy tag. I guess I like the hoodie, but the weather is still too hot.

She puts my DAFOs on. I groan in disapproval. I don't like wearing my foot orthosis when I go out, even if I know they help my feet stay in a somewhat normalised position.

I get a gentle pat on my cheek and a smile before she steers the chair in the direction of the car, using the back control.
I wanted to do it myself...

"Hey! Good morning, Lou!" I heard Harry's deep voice and see him approaching us.

He's my neighbour, and friend I think. I like him. He speaks to me as if I was 'normal'. He's a good guy. And he might have been the reason I've woken up with a situation more often for the past few months since he moved here, too.

"Hello, Harry. We're in a bit of a rush. We'll be back after lunch" My mum explains getting me and my chair in the car, not giving me the chance to acknowledge him.

"Oh. Okay. I'll see you later, Lou" Harry  spoke.

I just wanted to stay a minute with him. Make sure he knew I enjoy his company.

Lunch with my cousins and aunts went okay.

I mean... My oldest cousins either spoke to me as if I was two and deaf or stared at me with pity on their faces, but the younger ones were fun to be around.

We'll just ignore the one who tried to shove her boobs in my face, attempting to get a reaction from me when we were alone for a minute. If only she knew... But she seemed to get the general picture when I managed to to kick her shin and steered the chair away.

At least my uncle didn't openly recommend my mum to send me to a nursing home today. It's a win in my opinion.

Most of the food was good but I hate beans. I guess turning my mouth away from the spoon every time I spotted some on it wasn't enough of a giveaway for mum to understand I didn't want to eat them.
I'm 20! If I don't want beans I don't eat beans.

"They are good for your body, love. Just a few more bites" She said.

Thankfully, we went back home early. Me taking a short nap once I was changed and back in bed.

...

I had been awake for a few minutes when I heard a knock on my door.

"It's me. Can I come in?" Harry's deep voice was heard from the other side of the door.

" 'ee" I manage to speak in approval, after second struggling to make the right sound.

I smile when he pokes his curly head in, his eyes searching for mine.

"Hi, Lou. I can come another day if you're tired today" He wishpers, as if trying not to disturb the quiet in the room.

I shake my head 'no' before trying to rub my sleepy eyes. I end up poking my eye with a rouge finger.