Paralyzed

Chapter 10 : Grocery Store

Chapter 10

Later...    

Riker POV

Honestly, we should've thought this out before we got to the grocery store. But we didn't.

I mean, I know I didn't want to be left home alone, but there's a lot that could go wrong because I insisted on coming.

First of all, Avery has no way to get me to a bathroom if I have to go while we're out. So I went before we left and hopefully I just won't have to go.

Second, I really don't want to get recognized, so I wore sunglasses, but I realized I just look really suspicious with them on because it's raining out.

And third, we were currently sitting in the parking lot because we don't know how to get me inside or what to do.

"What if we put you in a shopping cart?" Avery asked.

"You really think you could get me in one?"

"Yeah. We might get pretty wet from the rain though."

"I don't care. Let's try it."

Avery got out and brought a cart over to my side. She opened my door and put the cart next to me. It was higher than I thought it was going to be.

"How am I going to get in?" I asked.

"Um... Try to get on my back and I can try to lift you like that."

Avery got down next to me. I held onto her shoulders and she was able to lift me on her back, which I was kind of surprised about. She backed up to the cart. I grabbed onto it, and kind of just fell into it.

"Riker, you ok?"

"Yeah," I said, getting into a more comfortable position.

Avery shut my door and locked her car. And then she started pushing me in the cart towards the store.

"Am I heavy?" I asked.

"Not really. It's just sort of an awkward way to lift you since you can only hold on with your arms. And now that you're in the cart, it's super easy."

I leaned back, trying to get more comfy in here. Avery and I were pretty much soaking wet by the time we finally made it into the store.

"Here. You're in charge of the list," she said, handing me her phone.

"Do I look weird with sunglasses on?"

"Yeah, kinda."

"Should I take them off?"

"What if you're recognized?"

"I don't know... Well if I'm recognized, they wouldn't know something's wrong with me, right?"

"Probably not."

"Ok."

I took my sunglasses off. It was hard to see with them on in the store anyway.

I read off the items on the list to Avery. And one by one, we got them all.

"Is there anything else you want while we're here?" Avery asked.

"What about popcorn? I feel like I'm going to watch a lot of movies since I can't really do much else."

"Sure. But I think we can get you doing some more things besides just laying around watching movies. I want to get started with trying to get you back on your feet."

"Today!?"

"No, you're not going to stand today. We're just going to do some very simple, basic things as a start. Don't worry."

Avery got some popcorn.

"Anything else?"

"No, I think that's good for now."

When we got to the check out, I handed Avery the items from the cart. I kind of just wanted to feel useful for once. I know Avery is here, literally to help me do things. But I want to help if I can.

Avery paid for everything, and then we were back out in the rain. And it was starting to storm now. I really just want to get home and watch some movies while under a bunch of blankets.

Avery put the groceries in the back and then we had to get me out of the cart, which was harder than getting me in. I couldn't really get on her back like last time. She tried to pick me up, but she wasn't strong enough to pick me up with just her arms.

"Riker, I don't know what to do."

"Um... What if you like... tilt the cart? Like rock it to the side, near your car, and maybe I can pull myself out."

Avery tilted the cart very carefully so I wouldn't fall out. I was able to get myself back into her car.

She put the cart away and then got in too. I was shivering a little because my clothes were literally soaked.

Avery started driving us back home.

"Are you mad?" I asked, quietly.

"No. Why would I be mad?"

"Because I made you take me to the store, and now we're soaking wet because I had to be in the cart."

"Riker, I'm not mad. We're both learning what you can and can't do, and how to make this work. We got rained on. It's not a big deal. It's just rain."

"Ok. I'm just checking. I don't want you to be mad."

"I'm not. In fact, maybe it doesn't matter that we're soaking wet."

"What do you mean?"

"Well I wanted to try some things with you today. Remember how I mentioned the pool?"

"But it's storming."

"Well when the storm lets up, we can go out."

"I'm scared."

"Don't be. I promise you'll be safe the whole time. Do you trust me?"

"Yeah."

When we got back home, Avery brought in the groceries and then brought out the chair so she could bring me inside. I was honestly exhausted.

She gave me a change of clothes and brought me to the bathroom so I could change while she started unpacking the groceries.

Instead of calling for her to bring me back to the living room, I managed to open the door, and then pull myself out of the bathroom by holding onto the door. And then I shoved the door away from me as hard as I could, and my chair went rolling down the hall towards the living room. Avery was looking at me from the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" She asked, laughing.

"I just want some independence back, you know?" I asked.

"Whatever works."

I grabbed the couch and pulled myself closer. I gently slid off the chair, back onto my floor bed. I got under the covers and laid down. I really just want a nap right now. I'm so tired. Maybe it's the meds I'm taking.

I decided to take a nap while Avery was handling the groceries.