Boundless Love

The Unknown

Levi's POV...

Charlotte hasn't been acting like herself today. I know she's busy getting everything ready for Jake's party this evening, but I feel like she's avoiding me.

We're alone in the gym, just her and I, hand in hand while I work on my balance. Her mind is noticeably elsewhere even though she smiles at me when I manage to stand longer than the last time.

"That's it, If you don't want to tell me why your're in a glum mood...," I yank her into my chest and hug her tightly.

She tries to pull away after a few seconds, but I hold her even tighter. "I'm not letting go until you either cheer up or reveal what's bothering you."

"I'm sorry I'm in my own world today, I'll perk up, I promise," she still doesn't convince me.

"I have just the thing that will lighten your spirits! Will you please walk with me to the parallel bars?" I ask her.

We get to the bars and I instruct her to stand in the middle of them, facing me about two feet away.

"Levi, what are you doing?" She drags out my name.

"Wait for it!" I tease her.

She's in position to catch me but I wave her hands away.

I hear her suck in a deep breath and hold it when she watches me stand up straight and let go of the bars. She instinctively moves her body closer to me, it's her protective nature.

"Freeze! Young lady", I tease again. "I'm coming to you."

Keeping my hands close to the bars without touching them, I shift my weight to my right and swing my pesky left leg forward, taking a step.

Charlotte is bug-eyed and remains holding her breath, so I quickly steady myself before she passes out from lack of oxygen. Carefully, I disperse my weight to the middle and take a step forward with my right leg.

Her smile widens even though I've only taken one small step with each foot and I reach for her face with both of my hands and capture her lips with mine. She kisses me back and finally breathes again, " That was amazing! You just made my whole day!" She declares, wrapping her arms around my waist, embracing me again.

" I thought you might like that! Sometimes I can take two steps before I need to grab the bars," I say with glee.

"You're my hero, you know that?" She says softly, avoiding my gaze and resting her head on my chest for a moment.

"Charlotte, it was only one step, nothing extraordinary," I smirk because I'm happy knowing that any small feat is something gigantic in her eyes.

"Small steps always lead to bigger ones," she reminds me.

She quickly hands me my crutches. Her mood swiftly changes, she looks happy again and says, " How about we help get Jake's party started?"

Once again, the lounge is full of people, music, and great food. Sarah put together a slide show on the big screen reminding us of all Jake's milestones. Seeing pictures and videos of when he first arrived here, in pain, not able to do much on his own, brings back memories of when I first arrived. I wanted to forget about those days all together, yet looking at these pictures on screen reminds me how hard Jake worked... how hard I have worked and all the challenges we have overcome.

I most enjoy the pictures of the two of us goofing around in the gym together and racing our wheelchairs down the hallway. Jake's been a great friend, he's helped me through everything while I've been here. I hope he can say that I've helped him too. I'm going to miss not having him around every day.