Different Doesn't Mean Broken

Chapter 27 - Mia

I hugged Marty to my chest. Since I was little, he had always been a comfort to me, from surgeries, to injuries, to being sent to a school for the deaf.

He was my little buddy. Mom had given him to me when I was 9. I wiped my eyes as tears fell from that thought.

I gently petted Marty as the nurse brought my meds and breakfast. She told me I could rejoin the cabin today and that Aunt Carol would be here later with the social worker.

I wanted to answer her. I did. But no words came out. I tried to sign, but even that was hard to understand. The nurse frowned but walked away while I ate my breakfast, making sure I took my meds first.

"She's not talking, Carol. Your niece isn't talking or signing." I heard the nurse say over the phone. "Her mom said, during dropoff, that sometimes she does this. That when she was younger Mia had an AAC device. Can you see if the social worker can bring communication cards? She only speaks to one cabinmate." I heard more talking, but now it sounded far away.

After finishing breakfast, I dug through my backpack and found something to do - cross stitch. I knew someone from the cabin would come get me after breakfast, although I was unsure who that might be.

Still, I wanted to pass the time. And cross stitching took a lot of focus. I was tired of my mind wandering. I wanted to enjoy camp. I didn't want to focus on what I was still sure was a nightmare.

And I wanted that blue badge. I needed it. I would do swim lessons this morning. I would find a way to insist that I could!

I heard voices coming into the infirmary. I could hear one voice was Michelle's but I couldn't hear what the other person was saying. And I heard the nurse.

"She hasn't said anything since you left," the nurse said. "But she was doing some cross stitch or something. I don't know if that's a coping mechanism for her or something, but it kept her calm."

"Hey Mia," I heard and looked up. It was Alex. And she called me Mia. Not one of her names.

"Hi Alex," I said quietly.

"So, Michelle and the nurse think you should come back to the cabin and join in with them until your guardian or social worker or whoever is coming. Michelle says I should be the one to help you around," she said, rolling her eyes and acting like she was put out by the idea, but she had just the hint of a smile on her face.

"Okay," I said quietly. "Alex?"

"Yeah, kid?" She said, well it's not mean, and it's not one of her usual names.

"Can I go to swim lessons? Can you help me tell them I want to take a lesson today?"

Alex looked at me with her arms crossed as she leaned on the wall across from my bed.

"Are you sure you want to swim today? You totally don't have to do anything you don't really want to do," she said.

"I want my blue badge. I need it. Please, Alex?"

Alex smirked at me.

"You're one strong bitch, you know that?" She said, a smirk on her face. I could tell she didn't mean 'bitch' in a mean way. She wasn't calling me names. She was complimenting me. I smiled a little.

"Will you?" I asked again. Alex sighed.

"If they say you can't, you can bet I will make a stink. I got your back, Mia," she smiled kindly at me.

"Thanks, Alex," I said.

"Just so you know, they're making you use a wheelchair for at least today. You kinda keep spacing out and they're a little worried you're gonna fall and hurt yourself. I have been tasked with being your chauffeur. So let me get your chariot and we'll blow this pop stand, cool?"

I wasn't sure what a 'pop stand' was, but I nodded.

"Okay, Mia, you ready to go?" Michelle said pushing a wheelchair into the room before Alex could get it. I didn't say anything. I wanted to answer her but I couldn't get my words out to her. I looked at Alex.

"She's ready," Alex said. "Just needs a minute to put her junk back in her bag."

I smiled to myself. I knew Alex wasn't being mean, but I guess she couldn't suddenly be acting all nice. Although I don't know why not.

Michelle left the room and Alex pushed the chair over to the bed.

"Do you want help packing up your stuff?" She asked, picking up my backpack.

"It's okay. I got it," I said, putting my stuff in the backpack she was holding open. She smiled sheepishly.

"Alright. Get yer janky ass legs in this chariot!" Alex said. I was about to comment on the 'janky ass legs' when I realized I heard a different tone in her voice. She was joking. Teasing, but friendly. I smiled. Just a little bit.

I got up, got into the chair and Alex handed me my backpack. It was as though she knew I need something to hold on to.

"Ready?" She asked. I nodded as I clutched my backpack to my chest. Would the world have changed? Would it be like the opposite of The Wizard Of Oz and we'd go through that door and the world would be in black and white? Would the world have drained of all colour?

Alex pushed me through the door Michelle held open. I closed my eyes, afraid to open them and see the world had indeed changed.

"Mia," Alex whispered to me. "You can open your eyes. I promise, it's okay."

I slowly did. The world hadn't changed colour. It had changed, and irreparably so, but it hadn't changed. It wasn't scary. Not really. Alex put her hand on my shoulder and whispered:

"Let's go, gimp," with a smile in her voice. "You got this, okay?"

I nodded. I did. We set forth. The closer we got to the cabin, the more my words locked themselves away. Everyone knows. What are they going to say? Will they make fun of me? Will Casey and Amanda be upset that I think I'm moving in with them, if what the nurse said was what I heard.

The closer we got to the cabin the more scared I got. I started trembling.

"Mia, it's okay. Anyone says anything, they'll have to deal with me," Alex reassured.

I nodded. Okay, maybe the world has changed. Just a little.