Ice

Drive home

"What are doing here?"
"My Ma, she collapsed"
"God im sorry. Is she okay?"
"She's still asleep, won't know much until she wakes up"
He nods "I hope she wakes up soon"
"Thank you. What are you doing here?"
"Picking my Ma up. She volunteers here sometimes"
"Yeah. I just saw her"

He nods and I see Lisa walking out, she smiles over at me and kisses chris on the cheek.
"You ok Kia?"
I just nod and she turns to Chris "you can give Kia a ride home right honey?"
"What?"
"No Lisa it's fine really"
"Kia, the doctor said your mum needs rest and so do you. Your brothers not long left, I saw him. Your dad is staying here and needs his truck so Chris can take you home"
Just as im about to argue, I see my dad walking out of the doors.

"She's right princess, go home. Your mum is going to rest and then hopefully we can bring her home tomorrow"
"I can stay dad"
"No. Go. Now."
I look towards Chris who doesn't look happy to have been told to give me a ride.
"Don't worry. I'll just get a cab home"
"No you will not. Your house is on the way to Chris's so he can take you"
She looks at him with the same look she used to
Give him when he was younger. The look none of us would argue with.

"Fine"
"Thank you"
He walk to his car, Lisa telling me to sit in the front as she has to be dropped first.
As we pull up, I see the same house I grew up in. The same house I fell in love in. Lisa's house was a second home for me and it was so strange to see it now.
"You let me know when your Ma is ready for visitors okay"
"Of course"
"Bye munchkin"
"Bye Ma"

She smiles at me and kisses chris and head inside. When Chris starts driving again, it's silence. No words spoken. No noise. I've never felt more awkward. After sometime, I feel the usual pain start to shoot up my leg, a pain that destroys me. I start to move and wince, trying to hide the agony I'm in.
"What's wrong?"
I look over and see Chris looking at me with what I think is concern.
"Can you pull over please?" I say through gritted teeth.
He pulls over and I struggle to open my door, before painfully lifting my leg, out of the door. Sinking to the floor, my leg stretch out in front of me.

I hear Chris scrambling out of his door, rushing round to me.
"Kia? What's wrong?"
"It's my leg. If I stay in one position too long, especially in the cold, i end up in a lot of pain. It's the nerve"
"What can I do?"
"Grab my bag. My medication is in there"
He leans over me and reaches it, pulling out multiple bottles. I grab the correct one and swallow two tablets. Hoping they will kick in quickly.

"That's a lot of medication"
"Yeah. I've had a lot surgeries. More then just what I had here"
"How many?"
"God! Erm.....20-30....probably more"
"Jesus Kia."
"I needed to know, if it could be fixed"
"And?"
I shake my head "nope"
"I'm sorry"
I slowly try to pick myself up, as I struggle I feel Chris, reach out helping me up.
"Thank you"
"Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine. Just need a bath"
He nods "let's get you home then"
We climb back into the car, he moves my chair back far enough for me not to have to bend at the knee.
"Thanks"
He keeps driving until I see the house in view. He helps me out and I use his arm as a crutch to get me to the door.
"Your sure your going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine. Thanks Chris. Really"
"Your welcome"
He turns to go back to the car, before turning and shouting me "Kia!"
"Yeah?"
"Here" he holds out a piece of paper, I open it and see his number.

"Just incase you fall or anything. I'm guessing your dad won't be back tonight so....just incase"
I smile "thank you"
He gets back into his car and drives away, I let myself in and head upstairs to the bathroom. Filling the bath with cold ice water. The only way I can ever get my leg to stop hurting. I lower my self down carefully. Praying this works fast.