Ever

Chapter 10

Because of the places I broke my leg; they tried to tell me I would never walk again. I sat for some time not wanting to do anything. What was the point if I could walk again let alone ride? It took a few days for the self-pity to ward off. I pushed myself to move around and work on and off the crutches. I took laps up and down the hallway of the adult floor with Blake or Tyler by my side helping me. The doctors kept me in the hospital until my concussion healed enough that they felt I would be ok.

“As long as you feel you are safe, you are ready to go home Kelly,” reported the nurse.

I was glad to finally get out of these four walls. “Great! I’m more than ready.”

She told me all of the medications I needed to take and all the doctor appointments I needed to make once I left. Untethering my from the IV in my arm and having me sign off on my dismissal procedures, I gathered my personal belongings and left with Tyler.

He gave me a hug before he helped me into the passenger side of his truck. “I’m glad you can go home.”

“Yeah. Me too.” I smiled back at him. The sun was slowly sinking deeper into the sky behind him. I realized that I forgot my pillow in my room. I tried to jump out to get it but remembered my cast. “Ty, I forgot my pillow upstairs. I hate to ask but can you go get it for me.”

“Of course, Baby. I’ll be right back.” He shut the door and I watched as he walked through the rotating door.

I pulled out my phone and called Grant to tell him I was out and coming home.

“Hey, I’m on my way home.”

“That’s great! I’m out with Blake but Ma and Jaime are home.”

“Thanks, I’ll let them know. Enjoy your time with Blake.” I heard Blake muffled in the background, “What did he say?”

“Here.” Grant handed the phone to him.

“Who’s driving you home? You aren’t driving are you?” He yelled through the phone.

“No. Chill. Tyler was here when they told me I could go home so he told me he’d take me.”

“Why didn’t you call me? I would have come and gotten you,” the annoyance plain in his voice.

“He was already here. There was no point to pull you away from Grant to come get me.”

He hung up his phone. I didn’t understand why he was being so weird about it. It was just Tyler taking me home. He’s done it a million times before. I watched the sky morph into different colors as the sun rolled over the mountains. The cool September air blew gently mixing with the August day.  I would have been a nice day to ride, rater being cooped up in four white walls.

Tyler emerged from the hospital as I was lost in my thoughts. Quickly, I wiped away a few tears that rolled down my cheek. I smiled at him as he handed me my pillow and pulled it to my chest. He gave me a look, one that he meant he saw through the act, and silently pulled me into a hug.

****

I hobbled around on my crutches, pacing up the wide aisles of the empty barn. The birds rustled in the twigs of their nests for the nights, as the radio played softly in the background. I sat down on the bale of hay and rested my head on the wood wall behind me. The silence was a blessing. Quiet to think and wonder on but at the same time it was scary. I was forced to think of the past and mistakes. There was nowhere to hide. I got back up and started toward the arena. My crutches were a dull thud on the concrete floor and my on boot a soft click as I walked down the aisle.

I looked out into the dark night fully aware of the animals that lay under the blanket of darkness but began walking aimlessly more or less through the empty pasture. I pushed through my fatigue until I physically couldn’t go anymore. I found the rock on the hill; my favorite place to come and read or break down and cry. I didn’t do either that night. I just slumped down against the cold stone and feel in to a light sleep to the lull of crickets and the sight of dancing fireflies.