Morning comes and everything is still calm with the distant sounds of cars and children outside. The sun rays through the blinds display the many specs of dust and the shadows of equipment in the room. With only my body on the bed, my actions are limited as most of my strength has vanished during my time in slumber. I could only partially move my upper torso and almost twitch my leg muscles on my left leg.
The nurses head in to do the usual routine check and set up my appointment for physical therapy. They gave me 2 and a half weeks in before discharge but then I need someone to help me after to recover. There's a portion in my mind to how much information I could take in before drifting somewhere else, with that in mind what else could I do. The nurses finish up and my mother comes to greet me quickly, drops off food then leaves for work.
I've always thought that I wouldn't need to stay this long, when everyone leaves I'm just in this large empty space. The monitors talk back to each other in their own language while all I have is the television shows to try to interact with.
The necklace. I search on the bed to find it but I soon find it on the table. It's a little far but I can make it. I tried to use what I had left of my strength to move over but even my chest seemed bound to the bed. With that I simply gave up, but I will try again later.
…
That later became hours of boredom and a 10-minute nap.
Knock knock
"Come in," I responded.
The door opened with the sound of creaking, as the person pulled the curtain back I got a glimpse of what I was going to be sitting in. I assume that this person is my physical therapist even though she didn't really have medical clothes, but something about her seemed off and similar.
"Hey honey," she said.
I just couldn't say anything but slowly things were coming back. As she walked by the smell of fruity perfume, and her glances at me were slowly caving their way in my mind. She sat down and upon looking at her and thinking I remembered.
"Synthia?" I asked.
She looked up with bright eyes and a smirk.
"Oh don't say like that, call me like you used to," she insisted.
"I thought we broke off after a few months ... I mean a year ago?"
"If that's how you see it then I don't mind because I'm only here to take care of you."
"Why?" I asked.
"It's my way of redemption for doing you wrong," she implied.
"Can I get someone else?"
She tilts her head and gives me an annoyed face, then proceeds to say:
"Look Jess told me to take care of you since Will can't, if you have any problems with it then call Jess."
"Wait, you know him?"
"What do you mean...oh so this is why?" She smirks.
"What?"
"If you let me help you then I'll explain your lost memories."
"Are you going to lie to me?"
"I've done worse to you, lying would just be the simplest of them. Don't make me overwork myself."
"So is that a yes or no?"
"I'm not going to lie."
"Okay, fine."
The nurses come in to help direct me and Synthia to the next room for physical therapy. I feel so bad letting these people carry me, but I made it on without much of a struggle. It feels weird because I thought that I would feel the gravity towards my hips more but it's just numb.
I was taken into one of the rooms and Synthia left. The physical therapist and her assistants took me out and laid me on the floor to stretch my legs. Then they put on these little braces to help support my legs.
"Don't feel so down it's your first time getting back on your feet, we'll do it again," said one of the male assistants.
"Right, the only thing you have to do is trust the process of rehabilitation," said another.
They both propped me up so that I could get used to standing but it felt as if my legs were like gelation. I was embarrassed because I could see myself in the mirror from afar. My legs shaking as if they had been shocked.
The only thing we worked on was trying to get me to stand and move. They told me that it was okay, but even though they said that I was more disappointed because it seemed that we didn't even get far.
…
The session felt as if it took hours but at least I got a break from Synthia. The thing with her was that we were a couple at the start of sophomore year. The more I got to know her the more I got to know myself. Over the few months of our relationship, it was okay, she did things that I would have rarely done and has dragged in her troubles some number of times.
I was fine with it at first but then she started threatening my friends and family because I was avoiding her. It felt as if I had no choice but whenever I would return to her, I could tell that I wasn't in my right place. She pushed alcohol onto me and I accepted it if it made her happy, at times I would refuse but she would throw a fit and I just couldn't leave her.
The time I broke up with her I found out she slipped narcotics into my drink beforehand. When I realized I was off she had already started coming on to me and pushing me down. I pushed her away but she had the upper hand and when I tried to run she scratched my neck. I would only find this out after I somehow ended up at home.
Yet here she is, pushing me around in a wheelchair supposedly taking care of me. Just the look of her face sends chills down my back.
"What's the deal? Quit staring I know you still hate me," she spoke.
"I don't hate I just can't forgive you"
"I didn't know you'd rather hold a grudge, I'd preferred you to hate me. After all between him and you, my label would be the enemy."
"They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
"That's stupid. We broke up didn't we and you moved on with Jess, and as a matter of fact, isn't that how you got like this in the first place?"
"Really? How?"
"You know what? I don't feel like getting into trouble today so maybe I'll tell you when you can walk properly," She finishes.
Upon returning to my room Jess was there again waiting in the room, asleep with a necklace in his hand.