Pretend This didn't Happen

Confident

Gary was alone. Yet there were people all around me. It was as if he did not even exist. Could they not hear him or see that he was either here to help or be helped? He didn't know himself. What had just taken place? Through the dust and debris Gary could see the builings collapsing piece by peice, large chunks of the walls falling off onto the sidwalks below. People were screaming and being directed as where to travel and how to navigate through this mess. 

Andrea was huddled in a corner of a building when Gary found her. Running through the crowds of distressed people Gary lifted her to her feet. She was crying and though Gary could not hear what she was saying he did his best to comfort her, wrapping his arms around Andrea's frail body and telling her that everything would be OK.

Another tremor and shockwave struck. This time rather than the two of them being seperated and hurled in opposing directions the two were thrown together, Andrea inside Gary's embrace, upon landing Gary took the brunt force of the impact between his shoulders, the crumbled pavement and the weight of Andrea above his body.

At least Gary could hear something now. It was the sounds of sobbing to a musical stringed notation he had never before heard. Gary let out a groan. Looking around the room to see where he was Gary could understand nothing. 

Andrea entered the room with a basin of warm water and a towel to wash her husband as she had been for the last nine months since Gary had been sent to his own home to be allowed to pass on. "Oh" shocked and surprised Andrea set down the basin of water on the end table at the entrance to the room. Tears began to well in her eyes "We didn't make it to our camping destination. You did not get your poutine, I did not get my steak and potato." Choking up between sobs but at least smiling now "and you're late for work" Andrea wiped the tears she was crying with the back of her hand.

Gary let out another groan and rolled his eyes unable to understand a word that was spoken to him, although he felt the loving emotional connection attachment the two of them shared and knew this woman was here to help him and the seriousness of the situation. Gary rested his head on the pillow unable to move his body, being paralyzed from the neck down.   

Andrea began to wash his body from the feet up, Gary couldn't understand what was taking place but was confident he would learn in time. Leaving the room, Andrea refreshed the water basin, returning and turning Gary on his side Andrea washed and dried his back. "There is someone who'd like to meet her daddy." Andrea took the their three month old baby girl from her crib and placed her between her father's left arm pit, resting her head on Gary's shoulder with her feet somewhere near his ribcage.

"I felt that," Gary groaned in an inaudible tone and his right foot began to twitch slightly. Andrea then began to do the stretching workout she did daily with her hubby. Andrea had her husband walk his three thousand daily steps by taking a foot in each of her hands and having him march, which also built up the strength in her arms a fair amount. Gary tried to speak but nothing more than an inaudible tone would proceed from his mouth which even he did not understand. 

"I love you so much, Gary" Andrea sobbed while continuing to massage his body. "When those idiots in the medical profession were going to just let you die," Andrea chocked up "I could not have you take your last breath in the hospital bed," Andrea sobbed "it has been tough." Andrea wiped her tears "I may have even given up on you without the support of your friends. You are a very special man and hold a very great importance to all of them."

Angareas crawled onto Gary's chest and his feet began twitching. Gary raised his left hand and placed it on his daughters back before falling asleep. Andrea couldn't believe what she was witnessing and sat in silent stillness observing a man and his life saving daughter sleeping comfortably together after such an ordeal. "I believe" Andrea started to play and sing along to the next song playing quite dumfounded by the last few hours events.