Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen



Nick was scared, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to go to physical therapy. There were so many things that he didn’t know how his body would respond, or if it would respond. He couldn’t ignore the therapist that was standing in his room next to his bed with the orderly.

“Are you having second thoughts, Nick?” the therapist named Linda replied cheerfully.

She’s a little too perky for me, Nick thought to himself as he attempted to move to the edge of the bed. He still didn’t have all of the feeling in his legs back yet, they felt numb and tingly so he was still unable to stand up yet and they didn’t move when he wanted them to move. Dr. Gaynor felt that in time, with the physical therapy, his legs would start to regain normal feeling again.

“Now, Nick, I want you to try to get yourself into the chair, I know that the orderlies and the nurses have been helping you up to this point, but I think you’re able to do this on your own.” Linda ordered.

Nick looked at her and put on a fake smile. He hated being so helpless and he just knew that he would fall to the floor, he didn’t trust himself one bit.

“Awh, comeon Nick, I know you can do it, think positively.” Jess was standing off in the corner of the room.

Nick looked over at her and gave her a fake smile too. Jess had to laugh when she looked at him, he looked like he had been in a rough football game. The bruises on his face were fading, but he still had two dark black rings underneath both eyes.

Nick licked his lips and set his jaw as he used his arms to try to lower himself into the chair. He was going very slowly and his arms were starting to shake as they were supporting his weight. Finally, in what seemed like minutes, Nick was in the chair.

“I knew you could do it, great!” Linda exclaimed like a kindergarten teacher. “Now, we’ll take it from here,” she told the orderly. “We’re going to go to the PT room and start you on some upper body strengthening exercises.”

The therapist pushed Nick down the hall to the elevator. Jess walked behind them and noticed that at the end of the hall near the elevators was a small group of girls staring at Nick coming towards them. They stayed where they were at with their mouths open and a few of them oohed and awed quietly as if to pity the way Nick looked. Thankfully, none of them approached Nick. Nick just kept his head lowered and didn’t look up.

The elevator didn’t come quick enough, in Jessica’s and Nick’s opinion. He felt like he was on display waiting for the elevator. They rode it up to the eighth floor and Linda wasted no time pushing him into the physical therapy room.

“Lets see, Nick, I think we should start you off with some arm weights,” she said as she wheeled him over to a wall with pulleys. After showing Nick how she wanted him to do it, she handed the weights over to him.

Nick looked at her questionably as if to say, “Are you kidding?” He was thinking how easy this was going to be. After about three pulls, he realized how weak he was. His face was already soaked in sweat.

“Nick, I need you to try to do at least five on each arm, if you can. Push yourself, the more you do, the better you’ll get, you need to do this, okay?” The therapist tried to encourage Nick to keep going.

Nick nodded and struggled with each pull. Towards the end he was gritting his teeth and biting his lower lip as if that would give him the strength he needed to finish.

“Great! I knew you had it in you!” she praised Nick.

“I feel like a dog getting praised.” Nick remarked to Jess as he rolled his eyes.

Jess winked at Nick and laughed. “Just part of the game, honey.”

The therapist took Nick to another piece of arm strengthening equipment. Each time she gave Nick a new set of exercises to do, Nick started off thinking he was going to be able to do without any problems. Each time he was disappointed.

After therapy was over, Nick couldn’t wait to get back to his room and into his bed. He never thought that he would want to lay down but he couldn’t believe how tired he was from “working out” for thirty minutes.

“I’ll see you again tomorrow, get some rest.” Linda said as she brought Nick back into his room.

“Thanks.” Nick replied quietly.

“Do you want to clean up before you lie down?” Jess suggested.

Nick pondered the question. “It probably would be a good idea, what time is it anyway?”

“Umm, it’s a little after 4:00, why do you have some place you’re going?” Jess tried to joke with Nick.

“Hah-hah.” Nick replied sarcastically. “I was just wondering what time dinner would be, I’m actually looking forward to jello again.”

“Yummy. Well, did you want me to see if the nurse can bring some stuff in for you to get cleaned up with?”

“Please.” Nick said quietly.

“Okay, I’ll be right back.” Jess left the room.

Nick sat in the room waiting for her to return and started to think about what had been going on with him this past week. Reality started to set in, something he was trying to avoid up until this point.

“Who am I trying to fool?” Nick asked himself bitterly. “I can’t do anything by myself anymore and I’m just a worthless piece of garbage, just in the way. I can’t walk, I can’t hardly move my arms, why the hell am I trying?” The tears burned his eyes as they started to flow down his cheeks. He kept slamming his fists down on the arms of the chair.

As Jessica entered the room, Nick tried to wipe his eyes quickly. He looked off over towards the window.

“Hey, great news, the nurse said that you can try doing a shower, if you want to try.”

Nick looked at her, “How the hell could I do a shower when I can’t stand up?”

“Whoa, don’t bite my head off, what’s wrong?” Jess looked at Nick and could see his eyes were red.

“I’m sorry, nothing.” Nick lied to her. He didn’t want sympathy from anyone right now.

“The shower is equipped with a seat into the wall, kind of molded in and there is a hand held shower head that you can control. Is is something you want to try or not?”

Nick thought the question over, he was sick of having someone wash him off, the thought of a little independence sounded good to him, but he was wondering if he would be able to pull it off by himself.

“I dunno, how can I do this?” Nick wondered outloud.

Just as Jess was about to answer, Brian came in.

“Oh, thank god, I could use you right now!” Jess announced excited.

“Wow, I like your greeting.” Brian exclaimed as he gave Jess a hug. He looked over at Nick while he was hugging Jess and he pointed at her behind her back. “This is great!”

Nick looked at Brian “Yeah, yeah, knock it off.”

“I need you to help Nick in the shower since you guys have the same stuff and all.” Jess stated.

“Hey, no kidding, a shower?” Brian tried to get Nick to smile.

“Yeah, doesn’t that sound exciting?” Nick answered back sarcastically.

“Hey, you’ve never showered with me before, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.” Brian replied.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Nick said.

“I think I’m gonna leave you guys for an hour. This is really starting to depress me.” Jess said as she kissed Nick goodbye. “Is there anything you would want me to get while I’m gone, books, magazines, Nintendo?”

“Whatever you think that would sound good, oh, I know, how about pizza?” Nick was dying for pizza.

“I don’t think you could do that yet, it would kill you, you haven’t graduated from jello yet. Take good care of him Brian.” Jess said as she gave Brian a hug and a kiss on the cheek goodbye.