Different Doesn't Mean Broken

Chapter 20 - Mia

I was allowed back with the cabin in time for rest hour. I had missed morning activities, lunch and instructional swim as well as breakfast.

The nurse told me to take it easy and made me borrow a wheelchair for the next few days as my crutches were needing to be replaced. Somehow they had gone missing. I sighed and pushed myself to the cabin, not caring if I got in trouble for not waiting for someone to come get me.

I yawned and pushed the wheelchair button to automatically open the door. The cabin was eerily quiet. There was some snoring from people taking an afternoon nap but Rykel rushed to thw door.

"Mia! You're back!"

I grinned and nodded silently then pushed myself into the cabin and over to my bed. I had hoped to find Alex there but Sally informed me she had let Alex go to the directors office for a scheduled phone call with her mother.

I frowned, disappointed at that news. Then rolled over to Caryn who was getting in a physical fight with Taryn. They were literally hitting each other and throwing punches.

"Michelle! Fight!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. Though I was still a little tired from being sick the past several hours, I didn't want anyone hurt.

Michelle came running over and growled in anger and frustration. "Break it up you two!" She told them. "Whats this all about?"

"She stole my phone!" Caryn yelled pointing at the phone in Taryn's hand.

"I did not! You just suck at keep track of your shit!"

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

I rolled away, irritated by their toddler like behaviors.

When I got to my bed, I was surprised to see my "missing" crutches were just right under my bed. It wound definitely make moving around easier to have them than the stupid wheelchair. I wondered how they'd gotten back here, if the staff thought they were missing.

"Michelle?" I said, after transferring to my bed. She'd managed to calm Caryn and Taryn down, so she came over when I called.

"Hey Mia. What's up? How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess. Better. Um, the nurse told me my crutches were missing and made me take a wheelchair. But, they're right under my bed," I said.

Michelle frowned, stepped back to look under my bed and looked up at me.

"Good to know they don't need to be replaced. Who brought them?" She asked. I shrugged.

"They were here when I got back," I said.

"Huh. Well, if you're feeling up to it, you can use them, obviously. If you need or want the rest for today you can keep using the wheelchair. It's up to you," Michelle said.

"Can I see how I feel after rest hour?" I asked. Michelle smiled.

"Of course. Rest up, we'll see you in a little bit," she replied.

I nodded, lay back on my bed and rested my head on my pillow. I didn't fall asleep, but I did relax.

Alex came slamming back into the cabin when rest hour was just about done. She started slamming her drawers and moving stuff around on her shelves,

"Are you okay, Alex?" I asked her. I was concerned. She seemed extra angry.

Alex turned around and for just a second, I thought she might say something nice. Like, 'how are you feeling?' or 'Glad you're back.' Instead she glared at me.

"Mind your own fucking business, gimp," she said.

Great. We're back to name calling. I wondered if her phone call hadn't gone well. I obviously wasn't going to ask, but I figured, that might be the reason for this renewed vitriol.