*Beep, Beep, Beep*
My alarm goes off. I hit it off the nightstand probably breaking it again. I manage to sit up and toss my blanket off. I began to stare at my feet, remembering what happened twelve years ago.
~Flashback~
Back then I was a normal kid... More or less. Back then I wasn't in this miserable state... The only thing that set me apart from the rest was my stutter. I have always stuttered when I speak for as long as I can remember which is since I was three years old because that's when I started to speak proper sentences.
Other than that I was completely normal. I had feeling in my feet, I could walk, run, play, I had friends and most importantly I was happy and had both my parents.
On July 6, 2006, one day after my third birthday my father was driving me to speech therapy when a truck came speeding out of nowhere. My father didn't notice because he was on his phone talking to his boss who was rushing him to come to work. I tried warning him but my stutter got in the way.
"D-Dad! T- Tr- Tru-Truck!" I screamed but it was too late when my father realized the vehicles had already collided. The next thing I knew everything went black. I thought I died because when I opened my eyes again I was blinded by a bright white light.
My mother was lying on me crying and I didn't know why. So I called out to her, "M-mom?"
She immediately sprung up grabbed my face, stared into my eyes and asked tears rolling down her face, "Is it really you... Ash?"
I nodded and she pulled me into a hug. "Thank goodness you're finally awake!" She exclaimed.
"W-what do y-you m-mean?" I asked confused.
"That'll be explained shortly. But honey you're in a hospital you got into a car accident." She explained.
"W-what!? Where's d-dad!?" I asked, worried.
"That too will be explained shortly. Right now I need to tell the doctors you woke up." She said then ran outside.
I remember trying to get up off the bed but feeling nothing, that's when I realized I couldn't move or feel my legs at all. I began to panic and burst into tears.
When my mother arrived with the doctor they all rushed over to me asking if I was okay.
"M-my legs! I-I can't feel or m-move them at a-all!!" I exclaimed tears streaming down my face like a raging river.
The doctors looked at each other, asked my mother to leave the room then ran some tests on me. When my mother was finally allowed back in the doctors began to speak.
"We have some very good news and some bad news but first we would like you to tell the boy what happened in detail so he will fully understand what is happening."
"Are you sure he can handle it? I mean he's only five." She said in a worried tone.
I was confused when she said I was five but I didn't say anything.
"Ma'am it's better to let him know if you're not ready we can do it."
"But we do recommend you to do it since you're his mother and it's just the right thing to do in this situation."
"Okay fine. Asher, I want you to promise me you're going to be a good boy and listen to the entire story before saying anything, okay?" She asked and I nodded in response.
Mom took a deep breath then started to explain, "...You and your father got into a car accident on your way to speech therapy. The hospital was called and both of you were rushed here. I came as quickly as I could I couldn't see either of you since you were both in the... Emergency room... Then... Then *sniff* the doctors... *sniff*"
My mother broke down and started crying again. The doctors comforted her and she continued the story, "They told me your father was dead. I didn't believe at first but when I saw his beaten up cold lifeless face I realize that he was actually gone and there was nothing the doctors could have done to save him."
She took a moment to wipe her tears. "At that point, I felt as if there wasn't any reason to live anymore then I remembered you. And I asked the doctors if you were okay. They didn't respond the only said to follow them, so I did. I came into this room and saw you lying on this bed sleeping. That's when the doctors told me you were in a coma and there's 50% chance you'd wake up but there's also a 50% chance you wouldn't. And if you did wake up there's a 25% chance you wouldn't be the same. That was two years ago... But now you're awake and everything is going to be okay."
"Miss Angel..."
"Yes?" Mom replied.
"Remember how we said there's a 25% chance your son wouldn't be the same?"
"... What are you trying to tell me?" My mother asked, worried.
"Your son has Diplegia in his legs."
"You do realize I'm just an accountant and I have no clue what that means, right?"
"It means your son has paralysis in both his legs."
"Which means?"
"He can't feel or control his legs anymore."
"So, you're saying my son is crippled?"
"Yes... The chances of him walking again are very slim."
"Why?... Why me?... Why my family!? Just why?!?" She cried.
"Ma'am please calm down. Your son is alive! You should be happy! You can still put him through therapy even if it's just a chance."
"You better not. Therapy is expensive and I heard from Mr. Jones wouldn't want you to waste your money on some chance."
I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't even cry, it was like I forgot how to feel emotions.
"Anyways, we should continue this conversation outside. The boy has been through enough."
A week after that, I got a wheelchair and was allowed to leave. I went home with my mom and she completely remodelled the house so I could move around easier. Then I saw a man in a suit and a briefcase run-up to my mother.
"Hunny, you're home!... Who's this? And what's with all the renovations?"
"Asher, meet your new dad. Damien, meet Asher, my son. I just made the house safe for him." Mom said introducing us. I remained silent not knowing what to do. Damien didn't seem too happy to see me.
Later that night I don't remember what exactly they argued about but it was really loud and lasted for three hours, it was most likely about me. Long story short Damien didn't like me and the feeling was mutual.
His son Andy also hated me. He said it was because I was a spoiled brat and an attention whore. After all, I got attention from mom just because I disabled. He only bullies me verbally so it isn't that bad.
Another year passed and I started going to school again. But this time I didn't know anyone and I was bullied by everyone. Levi and his friends we're the worst though. One time they unscrewed my wheelchair so I was helpless on the ground then the beat me up. I couldn't even protect myself because two of them were holding my hands down.
~Flashback End~
'They beat me up so badly I blacked out and woke up in the hospital. Ever since then, I've been homeschooled and my mother never lets me leave the house. I'm fifteen almost sixteen now and I'm still in this miserable state now. Not even being capable of getting out of bed by myself.' I thought while ringing the bell next to my bed waiting for my mother to come to help me get in my wheelchair.
"Asher. I didn't expect you to wake this early, usually, you sleep through your alarm." She said entering the room.
"Yeah, but you got me that new annoying one," I said pointing to the alarm I threw earlier.
"Did you really have to throw it?" She asked, sighing.
"Yes. It was loud and annoying so that was the only option."
"What about turning it off?" She asked.
"No. Throwing it the only option."
"Jeez, what did it do to you?"
"Wake me up in the most annoying way possible."
"Fine, I won't argue with you anymore. Breakfast isn't ready yet so you can stay here while I finish." She said helping me into my wheelchair.
I wheel my way over to the coffee table and take up my phone. I unlocked it and decided to check social media. I went on Instagram and checked out photos and of people who actually have a life doing things I can't.
Then out of the blue, a notification popped up from WhatsApp from an unknown number. I clicked on it immediately and started texting them. It seems they already tried contacting me last night but I was most likely asleep.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
Today
Unknown number: "Hi, You're Immortal Loser right?"
"Yeah, that's me... Who are you?"
Unknown number: "Oh, I'm Krazy Cupcakes. I was your partner in that Fantasia Online event last night. You were really good so I just wanted to see if we could become friends. Hint, hint. So I went to your profile to see if I could send you a friend request and I did."
"How did you get my number?"
Unknown number: "It was in your description. You should probably remove it btw, trust me there's a lot of creeps on here."
"Ok, I will. Are you the girl or that weird dude?"
Unknown number: "I'm the girl and yes I'm also one irl."
"Okay cool! You were pretty good too. Maybe we could play again later."
Unknown number: "Of course!"
"Ok. I saved your number. I'll accept your friend request later because I'm away from the computer right now."
Krazy Cupcakes: "That's fine. I have to go now anyway, see ya later!"
"Okay, bye."
That was the first time in years I've talked to another human aside from family without being given strange looks. Actually, I think that's the first time a girl started a conversation with me. Even though technically It was just texting but it's still something.
"Sweety, Breakfast is ready!" My mom called.
As soon I heard that I placed my phone on the coffee table and wheeled my way to the kitchen as fast as possible wanting to finish eating before Damien and my stepbrother, Andy come downstairs.
"So what was on your phone making you so happy?" Mom asked.
"O-oh someone from f-fa-f- a game I p-play wanted to be f-friends."
"Is it that umm... Fantasia game?" She asked.
"Y-yeah."
"They better not be like those boys that always swear in that fork-night game."
"Fortnite mom. And in Fantasia Online they can't even use the microphone unless everyone in the party agrees."
"I'm sure they'll find a way if they want to. Anyway eat up. Mommy is going to be doing the laundry and your father and brother are still sleeping but they should be up soon." She stated.
"O-okay," I replied and she left. A few minutes later when I was almost finished eating I had to be disturbed.
"Hey, loser," Andy said walking in his pyjamas.
"What do you want Andy?"
"To see you suffer." He said spinning me around to face him.