One Of Many

An eventful hike(2/2)

"Timothy!" Lucy shouted as she rushed in..She saw my defeated body, and quickly ran to help me up. I was like a bag of potatoes. Lucy explained "I had no luck. But I just couldn't face you, " Her voice trembling ,"you're in such pain and you did this for me." I had to calm her down.

"Don't try and blame yourself," I said,"Unless you put those rocks there." She was not amused . I told her I was happy I tried something new, and something so fun. Putting on a wide smile.

Lucy asked about my fall, looking for someone to be angry with. My eyes ran from hers.

"You tried walking, right? Were the crutches too high?" She inquired. I rejected her suspicions, while avoiding the truth. She sat next to me, on that uncomfortable bed.

"You weren't scared, were you?" She said softly That struck me, I could not avoid it. I was like a deer in headlights.

"Tim, it's ok to be scared. No one can laugh off an injury.You're not lame, at least I don't think so." Despite her words, my gaze was locked to the floor. My head was like a street light.I just didn't want to be a further burden. She left work for me, and her colleagues' calls came like the rain. My true feelings were bubbling, but I didn't want to show Lucy my nasty sense of inferiority. It was like a time bomb, or a balloon being filled with air continuously.

"Why do I always need help? When will I help you?" I said, my feelings oozing like a tipped over barrel. She took her arm back. My words were hurtful, that was immature.

"That's unfair. I am trying to help. And you do help me, it's just that you don't see it" She said, then walked out disappointed.

Alone, I turned to lie on the bed. My feet hit something; Lucy's phone. Uncomfortably, I stretched as forward as I could and picked it up. The back was covered in celebratory stickers I bought her. They were nice . I switched it on and saw a selfie of us . She lost her phone That day . Her stress levels were high that whole week, due to her possible promotion to manager. I even found her phone then. I stood by her, helping that whole week. It wasn't a duty, I wanted to see her smile again

My insecurity was whispering in my ear, because Lucy never said anything that I feared. She did not see me as lesser. We have both helped each other when we were down, like a seesaw bringing us out of the darkness to the sunlight. Moreso when the other could not push themselves off the ground. I was wrong, but I still felt ashamed. I stayed in that bed after looking at the open door and my foot in a cast. I was stuck. As much as I wanted to run the halls to speak with her, I could not. I could call her- no, I had her phone.

Lucy's phone rang, her colleague,Rachel, was calling. I answered.

"Hello, Lucy's not here." I said. Worried, if she asked where she was, I wouldn't even know.

"Wait, Tim. You sound fine. The way Lucy was talking about you, I thought you were in a crash ." Rachel said, oddly disappointed. We had an unremarkable conversation and I ended the call. I put Lucy's phone next to me. Lucy cared a lot. I knew that, but this Timothy guy seemed like the world to her, that she can leave work and he's on her mind. Wait, I'm him. Wow

After what felt like an eternity, I heard scattered footsteps, like a light drizzle. After a few seconds Lucy entered. Opening that door was like pushing a boulder for her. I stopped her, and set things straight.

"Please don't apologise. You did nothing wrong, you only sacrificed so much and were patient with me. Thank you, I love you. " I said, tears in my eyes. I never really considered how great love is.

I asked for her arm, and took it looking straight ahead. With those crutches, of course...