Paralyzed

Chapter 34 : Silent treatment

Chapter 34

Later...   

Riker POV

Dad knocked on the bathroom door while I was getting dressed.

"What do you want?" I asked, annoyed.

"Riker, can we talk?" Dad asked.

"I'm getting dressed."

"Tell me when you're done."

I sighed. I guess I'm not getting out of this talk...

"Ok, I'm done," I said, annoyed.

Dad opened the door. I was sitting on the floor because it was easier to get dressed on the floor than the chair.

Dad came over and picked me up. And he started carrying me upstairs. I don't like where this is going...

"Why are we going up here?" I asked.

"So we can talk."

"I want Avery."

"You can hang out with Avery when we're done talking."

Dad set me down on my bed. I pulled my knees to my chest, nervous.

"I wanted to spend some time talking to you so you can tell me how your recovery is going."

"Oh... Why?"

"Because I haven't been checking in on you. So I want to know how it's been going."

"It's been going fine."

"What have you been doing?"

"Swimming. And other exercises. Like stretching."

"And you've been regaining feeling?"

"Yeah."

"How much?"

I pointed to the X in sharpie on my leg.

"That's great, Riker!"

"Avery said I need to start working on regaining my strength. I haven't walked in months so my legs are going to be very weak by the time I try to walk again."

"Well she's doing a great job helping you, Riker... I need to tell you something else that you might not like."

"What?"

"When we get back from tour in a few weeks, we're going to go on a family vacation. But Avery won't be coming."

"Why!?"

"Because I booked this vacation before tour. I didn't book it recently and I didn't purposefully exclude Avery. So I need you to know that I'm not trying to upset you, but we're going on a family vacation when we get back."

"But nobody is going to know how to help me!"

"I'm sure you can just tell us what you need and we can help. I was talking to Avery while you were in the shower. She said you're becoming very independent and she doesn't think a family vacation will be too hard for you."

"Well what about after vacation?"

"What about it?"

"Can Avery still be here?"

"Avery is going back to college, Riker. To finish getting her degree."

It felt like my heart dropped. She didn't even mention that she might be going back to college. I just thought she would stay here until I was better. 

"Riker," dad said.

"Can you please just leave? I need time to think."

"Do you want me to bring you downstairs?"