ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON 14

Episode 67

Alan left his laptop upstairs when he came down for lunch by himself in the dining room so he rolled himself over to the elevator to retrieve it so he could make his afternoon remote World history class on time. He was already grumpy because his arms were achy after his morning physical therapy session and last night his useless legs had spasmed all night long causing him not to get much sleep. Plus the fact that his newly widowed mother who was in the hospital recovering from the kidnapping was engaged to a man he barely knew, a good man but still a stranger nonetheless, was not sitting well with him. Jeff had been feeling the same but last night had started warming a little to Nicholas for some reason.

He pushed the button to open the elevator and go upstairs for the laptop but it refused to open. He waited a few moments and then hit it again. Nothing. Again he pressed the button. Waited. Nothing.

Damn it , he screamed in his head.

" Damn it ,"  he screamed out loud. " Fuck this shit ! Fuck my life! "

Matilda Swan heard the boy yelling and rolled out of the dining room where she was enjoying a late lunch of spinach salad and herbal tea to see the teen boy in his own chair on the verge of tears.

" See here , Alan , whatever is the matter?"

Alan looked at her with almost hatred. This woman who could walk perfectly fine. Unlike him. Yet chose to sit around in a wheelchair like it was a fashion choice ! What did she know about being disabled ! Having to do physical therapy he hated ! Having to live with strangers and attend school online away from friends and Theodore. Having to see the pity in other people's eyes ! What did she know ! Bitch !

" Fuck you too , bitch ! You're not paralyzed ! Just pregnant. You have no right to that chair. "

Matilda lifted an eyebrow at him and curved her lips into a smirk. " And , you have no right to talk to me like that, young man. You are fifteen not five. Yes. You are paralyzed. That's tragic but at least you are not dead like your father. You are still alive. Try to appreciate that instead of moping around yelling at people who did nothing to you. "

Alan rolled himself closer to her , his attractive young face outraged. " You know nothing about me. Or my father. I may be alive but I can't walk. I can't run anymore. Running was one of the only things I really liked to do. It made me feel important and useful. People recognized me for it instead of just Barrington's damn sweetheart. What am I now ? "

His voice broke slightly and his lips trembled as he began to cry. He cried like his heart was breaking.

Matilda stood up from the chair and walked over to him to gently pull him into her arms for a warm firm hug. Stroking his wavy blond hair she murmured ," You still matter , dear boy. You do. You're still important and useful. You cannot walk or run but you have a fine mind. You can still think and do other things. Find a new purpose in your life. We all have them. " She closed her unusual eyes as she held him. " You remind me of my little sister. Her name is Maeve. Maeve had a gentle soul like you. She loved the world and trusted everyone. She trusted the wrong person though and got hurt. She never recovered. Even to this day. I miss my sister. You can recover. I know you can."

She stepped back from him as he sniffled and wiped at his face in embarrassment just as Saunders came into the hallway looking concerned.

Saunders said crisply," Alan , is there a problem? We heard you in the kitchen. "

Alan mumbled," The elevator.... It doesn't work..... I need my laptop for class. I left it upstairs. "

Saunders looked at the boy with compassionate understanding on his young face. " I see. Don't worry. I will retrieve your laptop and then telephone to have a repairman come out today to repair it. And , they will repair it so it won't break again. I will put the fear of Nicholas in them. That usually works. "

Matilda smiled rather kindly at the boy. "Yes. Until then come in the dining room with me. Keep me company as we eat. Perhaps we can find this purpose of yours. Everyone has a purpose. Even my son Race Jr. His purpose is to irritate. He does it well. "