POV Cole
High school is repeating itself.
Drama is at the forefront of every angle. Cheating, lies, tears, and overly emotional woman. How did I end up here again? The worst part is that I'm stuck in the middle of it all.
Nancy is pushing in a wheelchair. It's amazing how the mind can shift, I'm excited to leave this room, I've been looking forward to physical therapy. Not long ago it felt unattainable to reach excitement in my life. The last time I was truly excited for something was when I got the call that I qualified for the European tour four months ago, the time before that I can't remember.
The thought of the European tour in two months has my mind filled with anticipation and anxiety. If I can just work my ass off at physical therapy and focusing on my health maybe there's still a chance that I cannot only attend but race too. Dad and the doctors think there's no way in hell that'll happen but they don't know my determination, without racing I am nothing.
Nancy adjusts the bed to an upright position and has the wheelchair at bedside. She holds onto my waist slowly inching me forward and I hiss out at the sharp pain coursing through every cell in my body.
"I'm sorry honey," Nancy says while changing her position.
I'm finally at the edge of the bed, I feel the air brush against my ass and I'm thankful Nancy is not behind me. I'm getting real sick of this hospital gown, I wasn't made for dresses.
"Can I get my clothes back?" I ask before finally making it into the wheelchair after many attempts and position changes.
"Your clothes? Honey those were cut off of you. I'll talk to the doctor and see if he'll allow for someone to bring in clothes for you, it'll have to be loose-fitting and easily accessible," Did I mention I love Nancy?
All my life I've been riding on two wheels, who would've thought I'd be rocking it again, except this time on a wheelchair. I try not to let the thought consume me, this is only temporary. One day I'll look back at this whole experience and laugh.
Nancy wheels me out of the room, down the long hallway, and toward the elevators. While being in the hallway I stare at all the landscape photos on the wall. The itch to travel and explore again is all-consuming. My favorite place, Mount Rainer is the next photo to come into view. I've been there several times now and whenever I think of a heaven, Mount Rainier is the first to come to mind. The beauty, the wildflowers, the peacefulness, the way my soul seems to intertwine with the scene is a slice of heaven to me. God, what I would do to just teleport there right now.
We pass the photo and I'm reminded of where I am. The stainless steel doors are in view and my heart sinks. My mind is in a battle between hope and hopelessness, it's a fine line, a ticking time bomb of which way I'll sway.
"Oh shoot! I forgot my laptop in your room, do you want to come back with me or do you want to wait here?" Nancy asks from behind me.
Yeah, the fine line? It's testing me, I can't go back in that room yet it'll consume me whole, "I'll wait here."
"I'll be right back," and she shuffles away.
An old woman with short curly hair is sitting in a wheelchair by herself looking out the window. She turns her head over her shoulder, acknowledging my presence.
"I've been waiting for you Robert," The monotone in her voice creeps me out.
I look around the surrounding area, she must be talking to someone else but no one is around. I point a finger at my chest, "me?"
She slowly nods. She must be mistaking me for someone else.
"Oh, um, I'm Cole, not Robert," finger still pressed against myself.
"I know who you are, I've been waiting for you." She turns her head back towards the window staring out at the skyline of Seattle.
Chills run down my spine, old people freak me the fuck out. If I had strength in my arms I'd wheel myself straight the fuck out of here.
Nancy returns like an angel in a dark light, "Sorry about that sweetheart."
I'm about to speak but the old woman speaks up, rather angry this time, "You keep your filthy whore hands off of him!"
I'm stunned for only a second until laughter bubbles over me, I really don't mean to laugh but I was so thrown off. The old lady starts to laugh too and it's ridiculously contagious. The two of us bound in a fit of laughter egging the other on. Nancy is horrified by the encounter lying in front of her.
"Mary Jean! That is enough," Nancy scolds, and like two children caught red-handed with our hands in a cookie jar we halt our laughter.
Nancy shakes her head in disapproval, the elevator doors that she must've pressed while we were laughing opening and she starts to wheel me in.
"Youre alright, MJ!" I call out.
"Goodbye now Robert." Ehh fuck it I guess I'm Robert now.
The doors close and Nancy presses the number for floor one. She lets out an exasperated sigh, "Don't feed into her."
I look up at Nancy as she looks down at me, "I can't remember the last time I genuinely laughed like that Nancy."
She gives me a small knowing smile, "Well you know what they say, laughter is medicine for the soul, find joy in the journey Cole, the biggest wall you're going to climb is the one in your mind." She taps my forehead a couple of times with her index finger like she somehow knows the battle I've been fighting.
I choose not to respond but I allow her words to resonate with me as I stare ahead feeling a trance take over.