Blood in the Water

My New Normal

"Alyssa," Connor whispered.

     He was gently jiggling me awake. I could feel his breath on me.

"Yeah," I said in a tired voice.
"It's nine o'clock and we have to leave in less than an hour, so do you want to get up?"
"Mmmm yeah."

     I rolled over to look at him. I opened my eyes and massaged them. I could see the sweat dripping from his messy hair.

"Connor, did you already run this morning?" "Yeah, I wanted to do it before you woke up."
"Did you get any sleep last night?" I asked.
"Yeah, I think 6 hours."
"That is not enough Connor."
"I know, I'll do better tonight. Enough of that, let's get you up."

    We had to take a moment for a long kiss.

"I love you, Alyssa Macie Payne," he said.

He started tickling me.

"Fine, fine I'll get up," I said while laughing.

       I sat up. He grabbed the wheelchair and brought it next to the bed. I swung my leg over the edge of the bed and stood up. I fell into his chest and then sat down in the wheelchair.

"Bathroom first?" he asked.
"Yeah."

       He took me down the hall into the bathroom. Luckily it had two sinks, so he went to his side and I stayed at mine. I started by washing my face and finished with a long teeth cleaning. He watched me as he brushed his.

When I finished I said, "Ok I'm done and I need to finish getting ready in my room."
"Let's go then," he spoke enthusiastically.

      We went back to my room and I chose an outfit. It had been hard to wear pants and I couldn't handle cutting them yet so I chose to wear shorts today. I picked out an old pink St. Augustine sweatshirt and black shorts.

"What time is it Connor?"
"9:25."
"Ok we have time, can you make breakfast while I finish up getting ready?"
"Yes, I'll be right back."

I hauled myself to my desk and brushed my unkempt hair. It didn't look too bad so I just did a quick straighten. I also didn't feel like doing a lot of makeup, so I just put on mascara, blush, and highlighter. I put on my A necklace and small gold hoops. I heard Connor's footsteps coming so I sprayed my perfume rapidly. We were only getting coffee so he warmed up some breakfast sandwiches and washed raspberries. He passed me a plate.

"You look pretty."
"Thanks," I said blushing.

      It's an upgrade from my hospital look. He sat on the edge of the bed facing me with his food.

"We have like ten minutes," he said.
"Perfect."
"Wait I just realized something, Connor."
"What?"
"I'm never going to drive again, am I? My right leg is gone so it would be on the right side with the pedals."
"I didn't even think about that. I guess not. I'm so sorry Alyssa."

    I stared at my food, thinking about how this one day ruined my entire life. We sat there in silence for the next six minutes.

"Ready to go?"
"Yep!"

       He grabbed my wheelchair and pushed me out to my car. I had my full license so when I turned 16 my mom bought me a small white car. I hobbled into the passenger seat and he put the folded wheelchair in the backseat. I stared at him while he was focused on driving. It's hard for some people to believe, but I think he's the one I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. People say we are too young to know what love is, but he is the definition of love. I just can't envision myself with anyone else even if I tried. Our love is still as strong as when we got together at thirteen and I don't think that's going to change.