Broken Pieces

Chapter two

After a hard day's work and a barely memorable cab ride, I arrived at the three bedroom flat I shared with my dad and once again — Andrea. We relocated to NYC after the car accident my parents and I’d been in when I was seventeen, on our way back from a restaurant.

The accident was completely life altering. My mom died on impact. While, my dad didn't suffer any major injuries, he was diagnosed with partial stroke on the left side of his body, three months after the accident.

The doctors had told me I was lucky, since I only came out with a few scratches and bruises that disappeared over time. I didn't and still don't think so but I never said it out loud because the time I did, I remembered how that played out. My aunt had preached to me about the importance of life till my ears almost bled.

My favorite of her words was ‘when there is life, there is hope.’

If only they could open my head and write it in my brain. So, it stopped the bad thoughts when they came. But they couldn't so the disturbing thoughts still came when they felt like it.

Andrea, who had been my neighbor and best friend was my backbone throughout the crisis even though she was in college at the time. Andrea was adopted by my neighbors at the age of fourteen, and despite the almost two years difference we became best friends immediately. We were so close that when we decided to relocate to New York, she moved with us and went back and forth to college.

I reached the door and opened it to see my dad watching the television and hear Andrea moving stuff around in the kitchen.

Looking away from the show he was watching, he glanced my way and smiled. "Hey, you, how was work today?"

I smiled back at him, feeling happiness swell within me, something that I always felt when I saw him so happy. Seeing him happy always made me wish he felt that way every second of everyday of our lives. Except if that wish was fulfilled then a lot of other ones would also have to be fulfilled to achieve the final goal.

Like the past.

"It was great, nothing new. How was your day?" I queried, with concern growing in me. "I hope you didn't feel any pains, today? Before you answer that, don't forget you have a check up with your doctor on Friday. Andrea isn’t going to work that day so she will be the one taking you to the hospital."

His disposition was relaxed. By that, it was obvious he was having one of his good days. The days he could get up on his own, walk with his hemi walker or quad cane with only little difficulty. It was also when he didn't need to a lot of painkillers. At least the physiotherapy was working.

He responded to my question with cheer. "I didn't forget and by the way, today has been very great! I stumbled a little when I tried to move my body by force without my aid but overall it was an amazing day for me."

His stare grew intense as his eyes narrowed when he really looked at me. "You look tired. Why don't you go to your room and take a shower. We'll talk some more afterwards."

I had to agree, really feeling tired, I went straight to my room and took a long, hot shower. Feeling better after the shower, I went to the kitchen to see Andrea. She was already serving so I helped her move it to the dining room. We ate, cleared the table and all moved to the living room.

I was about to move to my room, feeling very sleepy, when Andrea stopped me saying, "So, what is your decision?"

With a groan as the interruption, I stopped to stare at her in confusion. At that moment, I'd no idea what she was talking about. I didn't remember her asking me to think on anything earlier that day. "What decision?"