The lingering accident

Working late

One day Steve worked late. The boss had asked him to finish a task and then close up, something Steve had accepted. Pete was the last to leave and wished him a good evening before he left.

It was quiet in the workplace, but Steve didn't mind. At least he could get the job done undisturbed by anyone.

With a small pack of papers in his hand, Steve got up from his desk to take some copies. When he reached the corridor, pain shot through his leg. With his eyes closed he waited for it to pass. As another shot of pain spiralled through his leg he knew it wouldn't pass, not this time. The muscles in his leg twisted in the dreaded cramp and he slowly exhaled, to take in another sharp breath.

No...not now

There was nothing to hold on to, the wall was beyond arms reach. He stood there, pain shooting through his leg.

Damn it

He knew he had to walk to get it out, walking always helped. The first time he had experienced this, he had been in agony for at least an hour before they knew what was wrong and injected muscle relaxers. Then the doctor had told him how he had to deal with it. He knew what he had to do, but he was afraid he would fall. If he fell down and wouldn't be able to get up, how long would he lie there, in pain? On the other hand, standing there wouldn't help either.

Grinding his teeth, Steve took a careful step, towards the wall. Then he took another, but his leg failed to hold him and he fell, just as he had feared.

The pain in his legs was unbearable and he desperately tried to calm his breathing and get up again, with no success. He did the one thing he could think of, he searched for his cell phone in his pocket and dialled a number.

Please pick up he silently pleaded as he listened to the dial tone.

"With Pete"

Great, now he only had to talk to him. But as always, that proved to be difficult. Steve opened his mouth, but nothing came out, except for a soft groan and he took a few deep breaths in order to try and deal with the pain.

"Hello?"

Please, don't hang up, please, I'll talk, just don't hang up on me

"Steve?"

"Pete..." Steve finally managed to squeeze out.

"Steve, what's wrong?"

"My...legs..."

"Your legs are acting up again? Try to walk."

Thank God for friends that knew what was happening with just a few words. "I... fell...can't...get up"

"I'm coming. Try to get up, Steve. You have to. I know you can do it."

That was exactly what he had been trying to do.

"Steve, you're still with me?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry, I'm on my way. I'll be there soon. Try to move your legs, keep working them."

Steve didn't respond, he knew he didn't have to. Pete kept talking to him, kept encouraging him to get up and walk. He stayed on the line with him and he was on his way. This alone was a great reassurance for Steve and with new courage he tried to get up again.

***

When the cell phone of Pete had rang, he briefly had looked at the screen to see Steve's name on it and answered it, thinking Steve had a question for him. When Steve didn't answer he frowned and was starting to wondered if Steve somehow accidentally had called him, but when he talked for a third time he finally got an answer. When Steve had managed to say he had fallen, he had immediately turned his car around and now he was driving back. On his way back he stayed on the phone with Steve. He was speeding, but he didn't care.