A Few Steps To Your Heart

Chapter 21

Georgia couldn't say what it was, but something seemed to shift in Gavin's eyes. There was something about the energy around him that appeared to have changed after she told him what was going on with her. Maybe he found some solace in the fact that she suffered too. It sounded horrible, but she could understand it because it made him feel less alone. Yes, she could still walk, but something was changing in her life as well. Something about her would never be the same, and he found some kind of similarity between them. He found something he could relate to. At least, she believed that was what was going on inside of him, because he hadn't tried being unpleasant for a good 20 minutes, and that meant a lot. It actually changed a lot, because it made her feel a bit closer to him. Maybe there was something good in him that she could bring out and connect with. She certainly didn't want him to be unpleasant all the time, but she wasn't lying when she said that his gruff behavior was preferable to worrying about what she might learn on Friday. She preferred his grumpiness over the worry.

"Does this mean I have a free pass to just insult you?" he asked, and Georgia noticed he was joking. She enjoyed seeing it.

"No!" she exclaimed.

"Why not? You said you would rather have me being an ass."

"Doesn't mean you need to be an ass all the time. Actually, I think I should finish this food, and then we should go watch The Vampire Diaries again," she told him.

"Oh, don't push it, woman. I am out of my room."

"And doesn't it feel good?" she asked, crossing her arms and smiling smugly.

Gavin thought it over, and he had to admit that it did feel good. While it had been overwhelming to begin with and he had almost experienced an anxiety attack from being outside of those walls he was so used to now, he was starting to enjoy it. He was finding some joy in being out of his room, and that felt good. He didn't think he would feel much of anything, really. He thought he might experience a bit of pain from remembering the good times, but that wasn't what was happening. He found enjoyment in remembering. At least a little. He knew he wasn't ready to go further than the kitchen.

"It feels... okay," he admitted.

"I'll take it," she said and continued to eat.

When she was finished, she asked him again if he wanted something, but he shook his head, and she cleaned everything up before they went back to his room. Georgia was serious, though, he noticed. She wanted to continue the show and quickly put it on.

"But it's ridiculous!" he exclaimed as she came to sit beside him. He had placed his chair by the couch, and she sat as close to him as she could. She smiled at him, thinking she was being very funny putting on the show.

"I think it is great."

"Aren't you a teacher?" he asked.

"Can't a teacher enjoy a good TV show?"

"But it's not good," he countered.

"It's great! But let me guess, you're the type who enjoys true crime and detective movies?" Gavin raised an eyebrow, but Georgia saw through him and pointed at him. "I was right!"

"It is relevant to my job... or was," he mumbled, and Georgia noticed how it made him sad again. She pointed to the show that was playing, and they began watching it.

Gavin didn't know why he got sucked into it. It was so far from what he usually enjoyed, but he began to connect Georgia and the show a little. Maybe because it was so different from what he usually enjoyed, hecould suddenly find enjoyment in it. Watching a movie about a detective or seeing crimes being solved would have hurt him deeply. He had been almost at the peak of his career when the explosion happened and he lost his ability to walk, so watching those movies would have felt like a constant reminder of hisloss. Therefore, he found some enjoyment in the show as well, and the more they watched, the more engrossed he became. Soon, they were both glued to the screen, enchanted by everything that was happening.