Back for you

Chapter 56

In the backyard, the sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the picnic setup. Jon carried out a platter of pancakes and set it on the table, looking up as Colby appeared at the back door with Diandra. The sight of her in the wheelchair, looking so fragile, made his heart ache, but he forced a smile, trying to be strong for her.

As Diandra rolled out onto the patio, she immediately felt overwhelmed by the attention. Trixy, Destiny, and Thundra started to rush over, their faces lighting up with excitement, but they stopped when they saw Diandra raise her hand. "Please, just… just give me a little space," she said, her voice shaky. "I’m not ready for a lot of attention right now."

April nodded to the girls to back up a bit, giving Diandra room to breathe. "It’s okay, kids. Let’s give Aunt and mommy some time."

Diandra took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety. She knew they meant well, but it was still hard for her to be the center of attention when she felt so vulnerable.

Jon watched her from a few steps away, his heart breaking at the sight of her struggling. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He moved closer, kneeling down beside her. He took her hand gently in his, looking deeply into her eyes.

"Di," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "I know you’re scared. I know you feel lost and unsure about everything. But I need you to know that none of this changes how much I love you. It doesn’t change how much we all love you."

Diandra pulled her hand away sharply, her frustration boiling over. "Stop saying that, Jon! You don’t understand! I’m not the same person I was. I can’t walk, I can’t do anything for myself, and I feel useless. I feel like a burden to you and everyone else!"

Jon’s face tightened, a mix of pain and determination showing in his eyes. "Diandra, you are not a burden. And you’re not useless. I wish you’d stop saying that. We love you, no matter what, and we’re all here to support you."

Diandra’s anger flared, her voice rising as she let out the emotions she’d been holding back. "Support me? How, Jon? By pretending everything’s okay when it’s not? By forcing me to come out here when I’m not ready? This isn’t support. It’s just making me feel worse!"

Jon took a deep breath, trying to remain calm in the face of her outburst. "I’m not forcing you to do anything, Di. I just want you to see that you’re not alone, that we’re all here for you. But you’re so wrapped up in your anger and pain that you can’t see how much we care."

Diandra clenched her fists, her whole body tense with frustration. "I don’t want your pity, Jon! I don’t want to be someone you have to take care of. I want to be who I was, and I can’t be that person anymore! And it’s killing me!"

Jon felt a tear slip down his own cheek. He moved closer, his voice gentle but firm. "Diandra, I don’t pity you. I love you. I love you so much it hurts to see you like this. But I’m not going to give up on you. I’m not going to walk away just because things are hard. I’m here, and I’m staying, no matter what."

Diandra's eyes blazed with anger, the frustration of months of pain and helplessness boiling over. "You think saying that makes it better? You think being here and telling me you love me makes me feel whole again? It doesn’t, Jon! It just makes me feel more broken, more trapped!"

Jon, struggling to keep his composure, responded with a sharp edge to his voice. "I’m doing the best I can, Di! We all are! You’re not the only one who’s hurting! We’re all hurting because we love you and we hate seeing you in pain!"

Diandra's face flushed, her voice rising. "Then maybe it would be better if you didn’t see me at all! Maybe it would be better if I wasn’t here to drag everyone down with me!"