Short Stories

One Day at a Time

I wake up to agonizing pain. I try to sit up and the pain shoots throughout my body. I groan.

"Mom?" I cry out through tears.

I hear her rush to my room. She bustles about, giving me water, taking my temperature in case I have a fever, fluffs my pillows, and calls the doctor.

Supermom. I try to smile and thank her through the pain.

"Shh. It's alright. Now can you rate the pain? Your doctor wants to know." She says, smiling softly with the phone in her hand. "One to ten."

"Twenty." I reply through gritted teeth.

She talks into the phone then ends the call. She sits down on my bed and places a hand on my leg.

"I'll call Danny. He can keep you company while I prepare for our ride to the doctor."

She kisses my forehead then heads out.

I look up at the ceiling and see the streamers of purple and gold looking down at me.

Danny surprised me for my 16th birthday this year. Being my best friend and only friend, I appreciate every little things he does.

He walks in. "How're you feeling?"

He sits down on the bed and takes my hand in his, rubbing it softly.

"Pained. Used to it. But it still hurts." I reply.

He smiles sadly. "Mom and dad are buying Chick-fil-A. We got some for you."

I smile. "Thanks for always being right beside me."

He laughs. "Well, my house is right beside yours so, no problem."

I chuckle.

He talks about his days in school. Ever since I got diagnosed, I stopped going to school. I smile and laugh at his stories.

"Come on now, kids. Doctor's waiting." Mom says from the doorway.

Danny helps me get to the car and mom drives us to the hospital. I hear her whispered prayers throughout the ride.

All of a sudden, the car swerves and I feel a strong impact hit my side of the car.

I hear mom and Danny yelling, calling out my name but I seem to be trapped. Ambulance sirens wail and soon I feel myself being lifted up.

"I'm here, sweetie. We're here." Mom whispers, before I fade unto unconsciousness.

***

I wake up to a familiar white ceiling.

My mom sits beside me, no visible injury. Danny sits on the other side just as okay.

I don't know how, but he seems to have noticed that I'm awake even without me moving anything but my head.

"You're awake!" He breathlessly exclaims.

"Obviously." I mumble.

He rushes to sit beside me on the bed and takes my hand in his. I see my mom stir and she smiles at me.

Before she can say anything, the door opens and my doctor walks in. She smiles at me but I see sadness in her eyes.

"I'm afraid your condition hasn't changed." She says with sadness in her eyes.

I nod, understanding the common words, not showing how I secretly hoped that God has somehow used this situation to heal me.

"What else?" I ask, sensing that there's more.

"Well, aside from experiencing pain every time your back is moved greatly or touched with a special impact-" She pauses, tears gathering in her eyes. "I'm afraid you won't be able to walk anymore."

I don't listen to her explanation. Even if she's been my doctor and friend for four years, I can't stand it. I can't even run out of the room.

I'm paralyzed.

I feel his thumb gently rub my hand. His other arm is around my shoulder and he holds me close.

My mom fires questions at the doctor but all I can hear is the fast beat of my heart. And then he whispers, "Don't you worry. I'm here. Your mom's here. We'll get through this together. One day at a time."