We walked slowly to a group playing chess on the next bench. After I was introduced to everyone, Helen and I spoke with them for a while.
I left a few hours later so I could make it in time for my shift at the bar. My forearm was already much better, and I could make cocktails without a problem. It was the chopping or dicing thatwas more difficult, because my arm hurt when I kept it in that position for too long.
I grabbed my bike, but instead of riding it, I walked next to it. I wanted to call my sister, and I didn't like to ride my bike while I was talking on the phone; I couldn't pay attention to two things at once, especially with my forearm all bandaged up. Being with Helen always made me miss my family. I called Rose, and the phone rang twice before she picked up.
"Hey, Liz," she said.
"How's my favorite sister in the world?"
"Oh, she's covered in poo and spit-up but blissfully happy. Thank goodness for hormones."
"I miss you, the little nugget, and our folks," I told her.
"Oh, sis, we miss you too, but we're so proud of you. You’re working your ass off and fighting for your dream.”
"I kind of wish all of you were closer to me while I do it." Rose must have moved the phone to my niece’s mouth, because I heard my sister in the background saying, “That’s right, tell Auntie Liz we miss her,” then a “Goo goo gah gah” mixed with screams. I had to smile.
I heard a door close, and then suddenly Rose was back on the phone, saying, "I was putting her down. She’ll nod off for a little bit while we talk. So tell me, how are things with your annoying neighbor?"
"I think we've reached a truce."
"Really? And what's that?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"Wait, didn't you say you reached a truce? How can you not know what it is?"
"Let's just say we both waved the white flag. But I'm still not sure what will happen next.”
" I rather thought his nightly trips to your door were pretty damn sexy."
I laughed, throwing my head back. "Really?"
"Midnight fighting with your sexy neighbor? Hell yes. You haven’t gotten any action since… before your surgery. Unless you count the one night with Dexter.”
I scrunched my nose. “I don’t.”
“Are you self-conscious because of the scar?”
“Honestly, yes. I’m not proud of that.”
“Hey, it’s a process.”
A never-ending one, it seemed.
Last year, I almost died. That sounded so dramatic, but it happened so fast that I still couldn’t make out the details, even though I’d replayed it in my mind a million times. Rose and I went on a hike. The trail was easy enough—my sister didn’t want to strain herself since she was pregnant. The edge of the hill to our right was steep, but there was a wooden banister up along the trail, and it looked solid. During one of our breaks, we stood looking over the railing, and when Rose leaned against it…
It broke.
I still remember that fleeting moment of absolute panic while my sister flailed her arms in front of her as she lost her balance.
“The baby,” she’d cried out.
I reached out for her and pulled her onto the trail, but somehow I lost my own balance.
Rose wanted to help me up, but I was so terrified of pulling her down with me that I didn’t take her hand. Instead, I grabbed the banister, completely forgetting it was broken, and tumbled down the hill. That’s when a sharp object cut right into my belly, tearing at my flesh.
The doctors said I was lucky to be alive. All in all, I made a full recovery… except one thing. There was a huge, ugly scar starting from under my sternum going all the way to my navel. The skin had been too torn for them to be able to sew it backnicely. It had been a shock to my system when I saw it at the hospital.
