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They pulled the sock on before placing the metal contraption on my leg, it had this cuff, where I strap my leg into. And then under that is a metal rod attached to a foot. It was painted to look like my skin color, but it was still strange to me; everything was.
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Jerry and Zhynlee asked me to stand and I did. I was steady and standing on both feet, without any help. I am invincible! I love to take a step forwards, and it works, the prosthetic holds my weight and keeps me standing. This is so cool!
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"Now, when you go home, I want you to go through your regular stretches and when you get tired move to your wheelchair. Is Sage's home wheelchair compatible?" Zhynlee asked and I nod. Sage's cousin, Katrina, got into a really bad car accident and lost her ability to walk. She used to come over every weekend but then she moved to the other side of the country and they rarely see each other anymore.
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I am moving in with Sage today and next week I was going to the event Monique told me about. I was super pumped to go and Sage is going also; I hope we have a great time there. I walk around the room a few times just to test it out.
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"Now to take it off." Zhynlee said.
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She instructs me on how to take it off, she unstraps the prosthetic from my leg and takes off the sock, but my leg has been a little swollen lately so she leaves it on. The sock not only is the protector of my skin but it has elastic in it which helps form my leg to its right shape. The Prosthetist sets my leg into its case and sets it on Monique's bed. She got discharged two days ago and I made sure to get her number so we could talk to each other.
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Jerry leaves the room with a goodbye and Zhynlee and I leave after him, of course, me with my wheelchair and her walking. When we get down to the parking lot, I roll over to the van. I had my crutches on my lap and I, very slowly balanced myself in one foot and jumped into the van. Everyone gasped as I landed on the van floor, but I was okay. A laugh escapes my lips and I pull myself up on the seat.
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"I forgot my leg." I tell Zhynlee, realizing it was still on Monique's bed.
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"Oh." Zhynlee says realizing that we probably shouldn't have done that. "I'll be right back." She turns and runs back into the hospital.
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I laugh again and strap myself in. Sage had gone and grabbed the stuff I told her to get, which includes my photo albums, clothes (of course) and books. Linda wanted us girls to go to Hobby Lobby to find stuff to decorate my room, but I explained I was only going to be there for a few months.
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Then Sage reminded me about Community College and how I would be staying at home for two years. I wanted to go get an apartment but staying at the Hathaway's sounded better. I was going to get a degree in acting, I had been in a few plays before but my father never came to any of them considering the fact he was to drink to know it. But I guess I'll have to forgive him one of these days.
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Everyone started to pile in and a few minutes later Zhynlee came back with my leg. I smile and half hug her goodbye before grabbing the case and shutting the door. This, is probably the happiest day of my life.
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*
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I've always liked going to Hobby Lobby, but I tried to stay away from the things that looked like waves. Which was kind of hard If you like the ocean or the beach. Basically, the only thing that wasn't Wave related was sea creatures and flip flops with sunglasses pictures. And the Hobby Lobby here, had A LOT of wave themed items. I thought I was going to die. I clutched Sage's good arm as we walked past a few canvases with a painting of a dock with the ocean in the background.
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"Will you stop holding onto my arm, I'm losing circulation here." Sage glares at me.
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"Sorry." I whisper and let go.
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After an hour of being scared to death Linda decides to go to Wal-Mart to look around. We end up in the bed spread aisle and I pick out a yellow and gray chevron print bed set. It would match the light gray on the walls. It came with two pillow sheets but I only ever use one pillow. We end up getting a few more things and then head to the check out.
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Out of the corner of my eye, I see the familiar red hair of chelsea, I turn and sure enough there she was standing next to Brody as they were holding hands. Apparently they got together a few weeks ago. But honestly, I wasn't mad that Chelsea wasn't being my friend anymore. Of course I'm a little hurt but I forgive her and Brody.
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"Sage, I'll be right back." I said, and walk over to wear they were standing, "Chelsea?"
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She turns around and her eyes grow wide, "I just wanted to say that I forgive you for not wanting to be friends with me anymore. I hope we can still be in contact though." I smile and turn to walk back to Sage but Chelsea stops me.
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"Wait," She said, "I wanted to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have acted that way. We can be friends even if you don't have anything in common. Do you still want to be my friend?"
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I nod, "Of course."
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*
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As soon as we got to Sage's house, I was probably the happiest I have ever been in the past three months. I had been walking all day and was getting tired. But it was nowhere near nine. It was still only one and I still had to unpack everything.
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The guest bedroom had a large window that overlooked the street corner. I have got to admit, it wasn't the best view but it was better than keeping my curtains closed all day because I could see the ocean. I had changed the bedding and was about to take off my prosthetic when Sage walks in.
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"Hey, need any help?"
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"Yes, actually," I reply, glad for her timing, "I was about to take off my prosthetic but I want to put everything out away and maybe take a little nap."
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"Sure okay, what box do you want to go through first?" She asks, walking over to the four cardboard boxes sitting at my right.
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"Um, how about my photo albums?"
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And that was the start, in under forty minutes my room was made up, clothes put away and books stacked neatly on the shelf next to my desk. I kept my leg on to change into my pajamas after Sage had left the room, after I was changed, I took my leg off and set it safely in It's case.
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Then, I slide underneath the covers. As soon as my head hit my pillow, the heaviness of sleep hit me and I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
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*
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I was swimming through the ocean and somehow I was breathing. A second layer I was at home, mom was cooking something on the stove and all I wanted to do was hug her and tell how much I missed her. But no, this wasn't real. It was only a dream.
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Within a split second I was forced down under and a heaviness came over me, it was like I was drowning but I wasn't. It was like I was in trouble but I wasn't. A man walked towards me, at least I thought he was walking, all I could see was his eyes, a strange color that I couldn't make out, it was nothing like I've ever seen before. His hair was odd also, black at the roots but changed to silver. How could that be possible unless he dyed it. But I've never seen this boy before. How could I see someone that I haven't seen before.
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"Are you okay?" He asked but I couldn't answer, I couldn't do anything. "Alana, are you okay?"
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Then I was pulled away from him, away from the heaviness of my chest and back to the real world.
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I pulled the covers off me and strained to sit up. That was some weird dream all right. I look over at my bedside table and the clock read in bold letters, 4:50. I had been asleep for almost five hours! It felt like only ten minutes.I reach for my case and take out my prosthetic before slipping the sock on and strapping it on. Once my leg is in place, I stand and walk out of my room and towards the living room.
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"Had a nice nap?" Mark asks from the couch.
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I shrug my shoulders in response and sit next to him, my mind still wondering about that boy, his strange beautiful eyes. The concern in them even though we've never met. What is going on with me lately?
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Mark was looking through movies on the TV Guide and finally found an action film from Marvel.
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Alana...Are you okay?
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I was suddenly dizzy and my ears ringed. The strange man's voice in my head in the same concern as in my dream. And I had the strangest urge to go outside and watch the waves form. But why would I want to if I'm terrified of them? There is seriously something wrong with me.
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"I'm gonna go outside." My voice was monotone and I had no idea what I was doing when I slide the back door open and stepped outside. The salt filled air hit me so hard and I walked as fast as I could to the water's edge. But when I stepped into the water I realized what I was doing and backed up.
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I'm coming...
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" What! Who's coming? What am I doing here? Who are you?" I screamed and the next door neighbors, who were out enjoying the sun and beach, looked over at me like I was crazy. I realized I was screaming at nothing and my cheeks go red.
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"Alana?" Sage says my name behind me and I turn, "What are you doing?"
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"I-um, just wanted to be outside."
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"Are you sure it's safe?" Sage asked, walking towards me.
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"I think so." I reply, "Maybe I should go back inside."
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Sage miss and we walk back inside, Linda was doing the dishes and Mark was still watching his movie. When we past the living room window, I swear I saw the strange boy in my dream. When I looked back he was gone. Figures. There is seriously something wrong with me. Maybe the hospital food wasn't good at all and they were just poisoning me. Probably not. I mean, what kind of a hospital would do that?
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I walk into my room and shut the door behind me, leaning up against it I close my eyes and try to comprehend all of this. I'm seeing people in my dreams that I've never seen before, I'm hearing them in my head, AND I'm seeing them just outside my house. What is wrong with me? An I going crazy?
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"Alana?" I freeze, the voice is back again, but it's not distant like the rest. It was like it was in the same room. Right next to me. I don't dare open my eyes, afraid of I do whatever this is will kill me. "Alana." The voice repeats again.
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My breathing quickens as I hear footsteps and a hand on my shoulder but I don't move, I just stand there waiting. I wait for something, anything to happen.
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