One Chicago: Linstead

Chapter 29: Real Word

Their vacation to St. Louis was tough, especially on Erin who had to help Jay with everything, but they had fun and they came back to a wonderful home and loving friends and family.

"Jay, how you feeling?" His physical therapist, Andrew, asked.

"Good, I just want to get back on my feet, literally."

"And, I, I will help you do that, but it will take weeks, months, and sometimes even years." He systematized. He was missing both his legs but thanks to prosthetic he could walk.

"How tough was it, for you?" Jay asked, worried.

"Very. It took me maybe a year and a half before I even took my first step without any help at all, all you really have to remember is, don't ever give up." He stood up and said, let's get started.

And for months, Jay battled with his need to walk again. Shay turned one, then Jay made progress when he turned 15 months, and when he turned 18 months old, Jay finally took his first step. At 24 months Jay was still working on walking when he went to a family/friends party for Shay's 2 year birthday.

"Come on, Jay. Let's go." Erin rushed.

"I'm coming." He said, walking in with the help of his cane. It took him a while but he eventually made it.

At the party they all celebrated for Shay and everyone watched him laugh and smile and, what was amazing, he didn't cry once. He was still as quiet as a mouse but that was okay because they weren't pressuring him into talking. An hour later, the party died down and it was more like a social gathering. Jay stood up and put his cane down. He took two steps and watched Erin all the way across the room and was determined to walk all the way to her.

He took another step and another and another, and soon enough he was over by her. "Erin," he grabbed her hands. "We've gone through everything together, plenty of car accidents, dozens of broken bones, and so much more, but this has been the hardest to overcome. But somehow, just amazingly, somehow we survived this, and somehow it made us that much stronger." He knelt down and pulled a tiny box out of his jacket pocket. "Erin Lindsay, will you marry me?" He stood up.

"Yes!" They kissed until something unexpected happened. 

"Dada." Shay giggled out. 

"Shay?" He moved over as quick as he could by Shay.

"Dada!" He laughed again.

"Hey, buddy. Was'sup?" he asked.

"Mama!" Shay said his second real word. 

Right after Jay made his own self accomplishment, so did Shay. Their family was going to be happy because everything was finally going back to normal.