Hope

Chapter Five

Joshua sighed as he threw the bed covers off himself. He twisted and turned, painfully but bearable as he slowly slid down onto the floor. He blushed red, a little as he used the bed to take his weight, pulling himself up as best as he could. He let go, wobbling a little as he tried to take a step on his own but just fell back onto the bed.

He rolled his eyes as Nurse Knight stood, looking at him. She offered her arm as she said "don't give up, try again. You're clearly trying to improve so come on, keep trying"

"I can't do it!" he complained like a child.

"No such word, come on" she ordered as he gripped her arm with what was probably a death grip.

He pulled himself up, using the bed to help as he forced himself on his feet. He was a little uneasy but soon he loosened his grip, taking a slight step as he watched her, the beautiful hazel eyes so bright, happy, her smile so... beautiful.

"You're doing it, see, I told you!"

He smiled at her softly before jokingly saying "it is all the cheese burgers but I prefer the turkey bacon cheese burgers"

"I'll make a note" she promised as she gave him something to grip onto as she wrote it on his food preferences.

"How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?" Joshua asked as he looked at her, her slightly tanned face.

"I'm twenty three this year, why? Do I seem too young to be a physiotherapist?"

"Somewhat, yes" he admitted.

She just smiled as she put her stuff down. She offered her hand but he just shook his head. He let go of the thing he was gripping on, some kind of table and tried to take a step on his own, no help or grip but wobbled, grabbing onto Nurse Knight. She just let him, helping him as and when he needed but he could feel himself getting stronger, he could feel himself becoming stronger. His legs were stronger, he wanted to go but it was going to take him and he understood that. She was such a beautiful person, a small necklace of a rose hanging on her neck, he saw it as he hunched.

"You're getting so much better" she commented as she wrote it in his notes.

"Thanks to you... your help" he replied as he watched her, her tied back hair, her eyes so beautiful. He took a deep breath and asked "how come you're not... repulsed by my face?"

"Because it is what's inside, that's what counts and not what's on the outside. Listen to me, don't let hope become a distant memory, fight to keep it because when hope's gone, you've given up" she replied with a smile, touching his hand. His thumb rubbed her hand as he looked up at her, the beauty inside shining through.

He let her hand go as his mother hurried over, a beaming smile as she said "you seem so happy, son. How is your physiotherapy going?"

"He is doing well, Mrs Reid, really responding well" Nurse Knight commented.

"Oh excellent, I hope you don't mind, I brought food in to celebrate. Nurse, if you can, will you please join us?"

"Mum, I don't think she can sit through this" Joshua replied, trying to spare her.

"No, it's fine, I have a break now anyway" she replied as she pulled a chair and picked at her lunch. She bit into one of the burgers, taking a small chunk that she struggled to chew from the heat. She blushed red as mayonnaise dribbled down her face but she just politely wiped it away.

"Wasn't I invited?" Sarah asked as she sat down on Joshua's bed. She looked down at the burgers and pulled a face of disgust, her face turning into horror when she saw the nurse just sat there, eating lunch with Joshua. "So you're mother's trying to set you up with a nurse, typical. She's always hated me, never accepted that we're together now"

"Sarah, please. I'm started to recover... I'm taking steps on my own"

"Good because soon the police will want to talk to you again" she replied as she glared at the nurse and his mother.

"Where is Charlotte?" Joshua asked as he looked around the room.

"She's gone to school, all she talks about is her hero brother" his mother replied.

"I am not a hero; I did what anyone would do... I did what anyone should have done" he replied.

"Still, I think everyone needs to know what you are, how you saved her. Just imagine it; you're going to be famous!" Sarah screeched.

"I don't want that, I don't want fame or fortune. I did it, yes, I saved Charlotte but I did what anyone should do, what I would do again! She's my little sister and I don't need the world knowing that I saved my little sister"

"But then people will understand, your face... it wouldn't be ugly anymore, it would be beautiful, a face of hope and love!" Sarah argued. She covered her face in makeup as Nurse Knight just stood up, gracefully leaving. She was genuine but no one had to listen to Sarah going on about fame, about how awesome fame was for him. He didn't want to be famous; he didn't want celebrities praising his actions. What he did was a spur of the moment, something he'd do again but not something he wanted, it was the kind thing that Sarah wanted, she craved attention and fame but he just wanted to get back to work but to do that, he needed to get on his feet.

He watched her leave, her glance and smile as she walked through the double doors. He took a deep breath as he sat up, eating slowly. His mother just smiled at him, his progress was amazing, his recovery was extraordinary but he had a long way to go before he was back on his feet without help. He'd been in hospital for a while and soon he'd have to go home, to the little flat his mother was renting. Insurance already stated the fire was an accident, a candle fell and set fire to the place, a tragic accident that cost them a home but not their lives, not that day. That tragic accident didn't cost him his life, it could've but it didn't, he survived the fire and he was going to survive for as long as possible.

He was going to walk again, he was going to get up and walk again, pull himself up and walk so he could walk Sarah down the aisle, no matter how painful it was, he was going to do it, walk again because he wasn't going to give up, there was too much to live for, too much to fight for. He wasn't going to crumble to dust, fall down at the first hurdle, not when he'd come so far. He could've been killed but he wasn't, he survived and he was going to use that to become something, to do something with his life even if it meant just marrying Sarah, having a couple of children.