“Wait. Could you help me with the blanket first? Every time I pull on it, it shoots pain throughout my foot.”
“Of course.” She makes her way to the bed and pulls the blanket up and off my foot. “Huh, I see why. You have a large hangnail. I’ll get some clippers to fix that for you.”
I stare at my foot as she leaves. A hang nail? I’m not sure whether to be overjoyed or embarrassed at the condition of my toes. Excitement wins.
The doctor comes in and examines me. The feeling has returned to both feet, and I am so thankful. It will only be a matter of time until I’m healed, out of these casts, and back to work. The nurse finishes cutting the nail when Willow, Piper, Ozzie, and CT step into the room.
“Wow, you sure look happy,” Ozzie says. “Did you get some good news?”
“I did. The feeling came back to my feet.”
“That’s great!” Piper says.
“I knew you’d be fine,” CT says.
But the worry he’s had in his eyes tells me the truth. “CT, don’t blame yourself. None of this was your fault. If you hadn’t stopped for that woman, I would have insisted.”
He nods but doesn’t say anything. Several emotions cross his face. He’s struggling with guilt.
“Now, can someone help me find out when I can get out of here? I’m ready to go home.”
Unfortunately,the doctor wasn’t willing to discharge me right away. He kept me for one more night. The next day, I was able to fly back to New York with Willow, Ozzie, and Piper. And don’t get me started on how the long flight went. I had to pay for first class because my leg with the cast on doesn’t bend and wouldn’t fit in coach. To make matters worse, I had to use the bathroom in the middle of the flight. Those are memories I want to erase. I’m sure Ozzie does, too. That’s right. He was the lucky guy who got to help me.
Now I’m set up in the spare bedroom at Ozzie’s apartment. Willow has been by to visit any chance she can, which has really been great. Unfortunately, I discovered last night that this place is simply a different kind of hell than the hospital.
Willow suppresses a laugh as I explain my misery.
“You have to get me out of here,” I whisper. “I can’t share a wall with those two anymore. They think they’re quiet. They’re not.”
Willow can’t hold it back any longer, and she laughs.
The real problem is that since one of my legs and one arm are in casts, I can’t get up the stairs to my own home. Here, they have an elevator.
“I don’t know. Coff’s old bedroom worked for me.” Willow grins.
I arch a brow. “Yeah, that was before they were living together. Besides, she’s my cousin. I don’t want to hear any of that.”
“Well, I’m afraid you’re stuck here a little longer. You aren’t going to get upstairs in your condition. Besides, you need someone to take care of your bedpan. Is that something you want my help with?”
“I don’t use a bedpan,” I say as Ozzie walks by the open doorway.
He pops his head into the room. “If we have one more incident like the one on the plane, you will.” He chuckles as he continues down the hallway.
I groan. This is not the side of me I want Willow to see.
She glances over at the metal bedpan sitting on the floor. Despite my refusal to use one, Ozzie decided to provide one just in case.
“And no, I don’t want you doing anything like that for me. It’s bad enough you have to see me all weak like this.”
Ever since she’s known me, I’ve been strong. I lifted weights in high school and played sports. When we met up years later, I was in top shape as a Navy SEAL. And when she came to New York and we reconnected, I was still in great shape. Now, I can’t do anything for myself and have been told to expect a lot of physical therapy once the casts come off. I can feel my muscles shriveling up.
“First of all, you aren’t weak. You are the only man who could be flung off of a waterfall and survive.”
I meet her eyes. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. And I get that you’re worried about getting back to work, but the hard part is behind you. You got the feeling back in your toes. And you can put weight on your left leg. That’s amazing.”
She’s right. When I first couldn’t feel my feet, all I could think of was my job. I need those assignments. It’s a part of me and who I am. I glance down at my toes and wiggle them. Then, I admit a fear I had. “When I was in the hospital, I was scared I wouldn’t ever get feeling back in my legs. If I don’t have RHS, I don’t…I’m lost.”