My head felt groggy and heavy even after the constant hours of sleep (I seriously nap a lot, especially since the recent times.) I smacked open my lips as they were sticking together and I could also feel a certain amount of debris getting collected around my eyes. I so need to get up. Brushing my hair using my fingers, I got up and shifted from the bed. Plus, I felt the sudden urge to pee. As soon as I landed on the floor, my legs wobbled like rubber stumps. The floor got nearer and.......... kaboom. I landed on my knees disgracefully (along with a China vase with roses.) with a loud thud. The nurse hurried in and looked dumbstruck as soon as she spotted a girl huddled on the floor. It was still dark and the time on the digital clock gleamed in red.
3 : 56
"Oh dear..... did you fall down?"
"Yeah. Intentionally."
"Huh?"
"I got up to pee." I spat, rolling my eyes. Uh, this nurse.
"Why would you do that? You could have called me!"
"What? You kidding me?! I am, hey, what's my age?"
"Fifteen."
"Yeah, thanks. I am fifteen. I have the right to pee freely when nobody is listening my pee sounds, ain't I?
"But..... you know you couldn't do this alone. And, your wheelchair isn't here."
I stopped abruptly.
"My what?"
The nurse froze and gaped open mouthed.
"Oh shit. Shit. Shit. Shit..."
"Too much profanities."
"I am so sorry. Why didn't I tell you this?! I am sorry, Spencer."
I rolled my eyes again and grunted ever so lightly.
"Spencer... you cannot walk."
My head snapped up. (I swear, if this is how I am going to react every time, I might break my neck one day.) The nurse, Elisha (God. I remember her name?), had her eyes squeezed shut.
"What?"
"Yeah."
"What do you mean I cannot walk?"
"Your legs are paralysed...." She squeaked.
Ouch.
I didn't speak anything after that. I developed this hamartia. I gave birth to this impairment. I'll have to overcome it. As soon as the nurse went and the room was silent again, I shifted myself from the bed and stepped carefully. My legs wobbled badly as I balance on them but I was holding tight the rim the of my bed - cum -stretcher It was painful. But it seemed worth a trial. Did I ever try to do this before today?
I carefully lifted one foot. It couldn't be lifted. But it will have to move. No choice. I concentrated on my hipbone and pulled my leg muscles up. Sweat made my hair stick to my neck and back and I panted continuously. With an audible creak and snap, my leg lifted up, hanging painfully in the mid air. I wanted to shriek in pain but had to keep my mouth shut. I repeated the process again and again for the following two hours. It had become less painful, and I was more confident. Confident enough to walk without support.
Maybe.
It felt like getting up after sitting for too long. I marched cautiously across the room being near to something I can grab in emergency.
I heard somebody gasp.
The woman (my mother, I suppose.) stood at the door. Whatever edible stuff she was holding in her hands fell down, splattered on the floor. She ran (almost knocked the oxygen tank.)
"SPENCER, MY BABY! You did it! You did it!" She screamed like an excited young mother who just saw her toddler take it's first steps.
Cheers.
..........
..............
..........
Two weeks after my walk. Ten years since I could naturally walk. I attended endless rehabilitations unless I couldn't properly walk you run. I took protein meds and jogged every morning and evening. Nobody could tell a difference between an average person and me (except frequent balance fails). And today, I was back home. We reached the door which had a nameplate with our names carved into it. The house was warm and bright. (Too much of red, dark coke, cream and golden.) Suddenly, a white thing ran towards me and knocked me over.
"Aaaaarghhhh."
The dog licked my face, making my specs dirty and drooly.
"Get off me!"
Sebastian, (who is supposed to be my brother.) grabbed his belt and dragged him out of sight. I brushed off it's hair from my Cardigan.
"Yuck."
"He is just too excited that you are back." My mom said.
"What?! Is he ours??" I gaped in part horror and part disgust.
"Spencer. You love him. You love dogs. Of course, he is ours. Don't you remember Lucky."
"Oh fuck." I whispered so nobody could hear me.
The house was full of photographs and paintings and sovereigns. Me and my family (and my wheelchair.) And the most fascinating part, psst, I don't remember any of this.
My room, which wasn't exactly mine (I shared it with..... what was his name, again?) was far more interesting like I imagined. I wasn't exactly a room, but two huge rooms where the common wall was missing. My brother's (WHAT WAS HIS NAME?) room was clustered with football posters, Marvel action figures, comics, paper planes, a video game holder, a small bookshelf, unmade bed, an underwear pillow? And some random, suspicious looking things.
My side was far more cleaner. The walls were mostly full of paintings and sketches, with my name signed at the bottom left corner.
Spencer Stark.
"Did I paint?" I asked the boy, trying not to mention that I forgot his name.
"Paint? You farted colours and peed charcoal." He snorted.
I rolled my eyes.
"You were amazing. Like, jaw dropping."
I twinge of pride bubbled in my gut. The room had a soft bed with printed sheets. One side of the wall was needled with family photos, certificates, papers, posters. A huge mood board hung above the bed with pictures of random people. "Like buttcheeks: Always together", the heading said. I recognised few faces from the hospital.
There was a cupboard and a shelf stacked with several DVDs and records. Beside my bed was a huge (trust me. By huge I mean massive.) library, overflowing with books. There was a cabinet reading nook by the window and the wall...... whoa! It was painted with many fictional characters, actors and singers. Many small quotes were handwritten, probably catchphrases. Right at the corner, I noticed my name painted. I made this?
"Uh. Do I read a lot?"
"My name is Sebastian, in case you forgot." He said, fiddling with his earphones.
"Ah. Yes. Thanks."
"Yes. You breathed the words. By breathing, I mean you literally smelt your books. And you always bought books. Like, always. And you always read."
My world is collapsing.
