After All These Years

Finding the One

After Elizabeth was able to secure Jason's parents permission to try to locate a replica of Jason's truck, his parents insisting on contributing financially toward her efforts, she agreed to her parents demands to try to enjoy some of the summer she had left by spending less time working.  While she knew the just over ten thousand dollars was not enough, knowing Jason's parents, and her parents, had offered to pitch in, took the pressure off of her enough to be comfortable with enjoying her summer a little bit more.  

Elizabeth helped Jason get settled on a chaise lounger next to the pool in the shade before she took a seat on the lounger next to him, brought her sunglasses over her eyes and relaxed for the first saturday in what felt like an eternity.  "Finally, a day to just do nothing."

Jason laughed sarcastically. "While I've been looking forward to seeing you and for spending time around the pool as a nice change of pace, I'm so tired of nothing.  I just want to be able to back to living my normal life."

"You'll get there soon enough, Jason." Elizabeth encouraged.  "I know this feels like it's taking forever, but you've made so much progress is such a little amount of time.  Your doctors and physical therapists have all said you are coming along well.  Have a little faith, and try not to focus so hard on where you aren't, instead of look at where you are now.  Those legs are almost ready for that dance you said you owe me." She smiled, unknowingly flirtatiously. "In all seriousness, I'm sorry I haven't been able to see you as much as I would have liked this summer, things have been crazy."

"Nick had said you've been working non-stop, but he never told me why."

"Why?" Elizabeth asked, though reacting quickly.  "This is prime private swim class season with kids out of school and parents are paying top dollar this time of year.  So while it's helped me save for school," she lied, " on the flipside it's given me a hatred to wearing bathing suits in general because i'm in them so much."

"Well I'm not sure I've ever been this excited to get into a pool again." He admitted.  "Though I will probably need your assistance, these legs are still very unsteady."

"Well I will make sure you don't fall, and you don't drown.  I promise.  Like I tell the kids, if you feel like you need to hang onto something,  grab me, and I will keep you afloat." 

When he tried to get up from his chair, unassisted, she scolded him with disapproval. "Would you just stop trying to do everything yourself and let me help you?" Elizabeth questioned, her body quickly retreating underneath his shoulder so he could use the weight of her body to help him walk to the steps of the pool.  While he grabbed the railing with dear life with his right hand, she stood to his left, slowly walking with him at his side into the pool.  He was thankful to feel the water around him cool to the touch and the relief of the weight off of his still healing bones. 

When he was comfortable enough she slowly moved her body away from his to give him some space to acclimate on his own, though she never let go of his hand, wanting to ensure he was at a close enough distance where she could come to his aid if she needed to.  "So, other than helping your disabled friend recover, and working, how's your summer been?" He asked playfully.

She shrugged.  "Relatively uneventful.  Trying to figure out which colleges I want to visit in the fall."

"Any top contenders?"

"UCF has a lot of options, and they have an amazing nursing program."

"Nursing huh?" He questioned amused.  "That's a new development."

"I'm not going to say being around you since your accident has had anything to do with it, but I've actually liked helping you.  It's given me a sense of purpose, made me feel like i'm contributing to society.   A few of my swim kids have disabilities so i've had to learn and adjust some of my sessions, and I don't know, getting to experience first hand how the body operates and responds to things, it's just given me a new interest in learning more about medicine in general."