The 18th Floor

Chapter Forty Three

I wake up in Lucien's bed and can't help but smile at the sight of him next to me. I give him a gentle good morning kiss, trying not to wake him as I make my way to the bathroom to freshen up.

I have my sessions at the clinic today and I've asked Lucien if he wants to come with me. I explained to him that he can't come into the rooms with him, but he can drive me there and back home and have a look at the place where I've healed and grown.

When I come back out of the bathroom he's woken up.

"Good morning love", he says, voice deep from sleep.

"Good morning", I say back, making my way near the bed. He leans over and gives me a kiss.

"Why don't we get dressed and head out? We can buy breakfast and coffee on the way", he asks.

"Sounds good", I say.

An hour later, Lucien pulls up at the hospital parking the car and grabbing my wheelchair from the back. As always, he opens my door for me and I transfer out into my chair. "I miss the G-Wagon", I say.

"The G-Wagon or me carrying you?", he whispers into my ear.

"Maybe both", I say.

"The latter can always be arranged", he says as we make our way to the entrance.

Despite it being fairly quiet today, I suddenly feel overwhelmed. Like I shouldn't have brought Lucien here. He knows about it, we've discussed it, but somehow having him here feels like too much.

I didn't realise I had been taking such shallow breathes till I find Lucien's face eye to eye with mine.

"Cyrene? Cyrene, are you ok?", panic etched across his eyes.

"Maybe, maybe you should wait here. Or come back later, to pick me up", I say.

He looks confused, "you don't want me to come with you?"

"Sorry, I just, I just feel too hot. Is it hot right now?" I say, panic filling my gut.

"Cyrene what's wrong?"

I put my head in my hands and feel like I'm about to start crying.

"Shall we go somewhere else? We can go home if you need to love", I hear him say. I shake my head.

I look up at him and my heart cracks at this man who is now my boyfriend. This man who is willing to do everything he can for me.

"It's just, you being here feels too real", I say.

"I don't understand."

"The chair, us, everything."

"Do you not want it to be real? I don't understand, you know I love you regardless of the wheelchair"

My heart starts pounding at the word he just used. Surely it was a mistake. I don't acknowledge it.

"Of course, I want it to be real Lucien, it is real. This relationship is very real. But I'm also scared", I admit. "I haven't had a boyfriend in a long time", I say quietly.

He leans over and kisses me, holding my hands.

"I don't care about any of that Cyrene, you know that. Deep down you know. I'm here with you, I'll always be with you. I like you for who you are, I would never change that. If you're not ready for me to come in with you, that's fine. I'll sit in the car and wait till you're done. If you want to go home, that's also fine, I can take you right now. Whatever you want to do, every decision you want to make, I'm happy to support you."

I lean over and kiss the man that has brought so much light into my life.

"Come with me", I say.

"Are you sure?"

I nod and he stands up straight and holds my hand as we make our way into the building.

Lucien sat with me in the waiting room till I was called and I told him I would message him when I was done. I went through my regular physio sessions, followed up with my session with Dr. Florence. I tell her everything that has happened with Lucien and she's really happy for me and wishes us both well in our relationship. She tells me how proud she is of all my progress and how far I've come and I can't stop the tears that fall.

As our session comes to an end, she opens the door for me and just as we say our goodbyes, her next patient is already waiting for her, with Iris next to him.

Iris is a nurse who started a few weeks ago. She was in two of my sessions but has gotten moved around again. I found out she was my age and I think we could have become good friends if she had stayed on with me. I also saw she had a prosthetic leg. I've never asked her about, but somehow it makes me feel comfortable around her.

"Hi Iris", I say.

"Hi Cyrene, how are you doing? I haven't seen you in a few weeks", she smiles back, her blue eyes beaming in the light.

"Good, really good actually", I tell her honestly, happy to have another girl my age to gossip with when we had the time. I look at the patient next to her, who has been listening to our conversation. He can't be any older than us. Wheelchair. Amputee. Tattooed with deep purple scars scattered around what I can see on his body. He has a prosthetic arm on his left arm, nothing to act as a replacement for the legs that are also gone.

"Nice arm", I say, suddenly regretting speaking to someone I don't even know.

"Thanks", he says, clearly taken aback by the comment.

Understanding how the situation might potentially get weird, Iris clarifies that he has gotten it recently and is getting used to it.

"I'm Cyrene", I say introducing myself. Can't hurt to try and make a friend.

"Tobias", he says.

"Well," I begin to avoid the situation getting too awkward, "it was nice to see you both, I have to get going." They say their goodbyes, and as I turn towards the exit, I see Lucien waiting for me by the door and can't help but smile. 

The story of Tobias and Iris continues in Electric Love <3