Amanda was coming soon. Five minutes, she said. She was staying the night. And, according to Mom, she might be able to stay Sunday night too.
I was downstairs, texting Amanda. Even before I couldn’t walk, I still texted her the whole time she was driving to my house. And when I was going there.
“I never understood why you girls do that.” Mom said when she came into the room. I didn’t respond. I could tell she was trying to pretend like everything was normal. I hated it.
From the time that I had gotten home on Thursday, to the time now on Saturday, my emotions had been out of control. One minute I was mad at the wheelchair, or my leg, or the world, the next I was crying. Whether out of pain, anger, or guilt, I would cry until it hurt too much to shed another tear. But sometimes, when I was able to pretend and forget I was in a wheelchair, I was happy.
But for some reason, my mind could never decide if I wanted everyone to pretend things were normal or not. I didn’t like it when my parents talked about my wheelchair, or if I would need help, but I also didn’t like it when they would talk happily as if I wasn’t hit by a car.
It was all highly confusing.
We just pulled in!
Amanda messaged me.
Alright, be there in a minute!
I had been sitting next to the couch to minimize the time it would take me to get to the door. I quickly pushed myself to the door as the doorbell rang. Mom came over just as I realized that I couldn’t open the door.
When she gave me a small smile and opened the door for me, I decided to give her a small smile back. I didn’t want to be mad at her, so I decided to try and be happy.
Mom opened the door wide enough that we could both see out and I waved to Amanda and her mom. Amanda had her usual light blue backpack that she used for sleepovers and her mom had a plate with plastic wrap over it.
“Hi, Kaitlyn.” Amanda’s mom said with a smile.
“Hi, Mrs. Ava.” I said, returning the smile.
“Hey, Kait.” Amanda said softly. When we were messaging, she kept saying how she felt so bad for me and promising she’ll do whatever she could to help me.
“Hey, Mandy.” I said, then moved out of the way for them to come in.
“Hey, Ava.” Mom greeted her. “Hey, Iris. I brought cookies.” Then when Amanda gave her mom a quick hug and said bye, Ava and Mom went to talk in the kitchen.
“Is there anything you need from down here? Mom already made your bed. But, once I get upstairs, I really shouldn’t go back down for a while.” I explained, it was weird having to look up at her like I was, and I think it was weird for her too.
I was already a little short, and although no one let me forget it, it wasn’t weird when I had to look up a little bit because Amanda was taller.
“Can we get some snacks? So, we don’t have to come back down. And, if you need anything, I’ll get it.” Amanda seemed so willing to help me, and it made me feel warm inside.
“Sure. And it’s fine. Everything I could think of is in my room. I really don’t want too much help. It just takes me like ten minutes to get up and down the stairs.” Amanda nodded.
“Can you get the snacks? I’ll start to make my way up the stairs.” Amanda nodded once more and went to the pantry in the kitchen.
I had practiced a few times before she had arrived, and on Friday. I had also been desperate to get my arm stronger so it would be easier to push my wheelchair. It was surprising to me when I did it, because lying in my bed and not moving all day seemed much more enjoyable.
I was sitting at the bottom of the stairs after trying a couple times when Amanda came back over, her hands and armpits full of chips, soda, chocolate, and a couple of apples and water bottles.
“When you come back down can you try to push me up, I want to hurry and get to my room.” I whispered to Amanda, not wanting Mom to overhear. I had been a little harsh when she and Dad had offered to push me up.
Amanda said, “Of course.” She walked up the ramp, but I heard her run up the second one which made me a little jealous. When she came back down, she told me how she watched a few videos on how to push someone in a wheelchair and I told her I did the same thing but for people in a wheelchair.
It turns out it is harder to push someone in a wheelchair than it looks. Mom ended up helping us, but at least we were in my room faster.
It was silent for a moment as I adjusted on the top of my bed. I sat down with my left leg tucked in and my right leg sticking out. I laid my left hand on my leg and my arm cast sat against my thigh.
Then Amanda blurted out, “I’m so sorry! This is all my fault.” She then started to cry into her hands.
My best-friend instincts kicked in. “Oh, Amanda!” I made a move to get to her, but my cast’s weighed me down and I instead ended up with a stabbing feeling in my ribs.
“Ow!” My hand went straight to them.
“Kait!” Amanda moved to make sure I was okay as I tried not to cry too. After I assured her, I was fine, I asked, “Why is it your fault?” Amanda sniffled.
“Because, if I hadn’t made you go to the library to study, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.” Tears formed in her eyes as she sniffed again.
She quickly wiped her eyes. “Amanda. It is not your fault.” I said slowly. She met my eyes. “Okay?” She nodded.
“Now. I practically starved myself before you came. So, can we eat some chips?” Amanda laughed and nodded.
She handed me an open bag of Dorito’s and got a bag of Cheeto’s for herself.
We turned on some music and talked a little, occasionally singing. Then, we spread out a bunch of paper towels on the ground. I leaned as far as I could in my wheelchair without hurting myself and we shook our sodas vigorously.
“Okay, three? Two? One!” We both popped the soda opened and it fizzed up, getting all over the can and on the towels. We licked the soda off the cans and laughed as it got on our hands and face. Mom had to change my wrist wrap.
It was a fun, and sticky night. Mom had to come in three times to tell us to go to sleep.
“Wake me up when you go to the bathroom.” Amanda whispered tiredly to me. “Okay.” I said softly.
Every night at about three AM I get up to go to the bathroom. Sometimes Amanda does too. She said how she wanted to help me get up and walk in the dark. So, I agreed. It was hard to do it myself, so if I could have a walking support, it would be nice.
We both fell asleep at 1:17. And, at 3:02, I woke her up.
Amanda grabbed her phone for her flashlight and after helping me out of bed, I leaned on her as we walked to the bathroom together. I had to practically fight her on the fact that I can go to the bathroom on my own.
She finally gave up and when I was done, we went back to bed.
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As if only a minute passed, I was soon awakened by Amanda vigorously shaking my left side.
“Kait! Kait! Kaaiitttt!” She yelled. “Mandy. I will strangle you with one hand.” I said with a deadly tone, there was no way it was already morning.
“It’s waffles.” She whispered in my ear. My eyes opened in an instant.
“Then what are we waiting for?” I said as I tried to get up. “Careful.” Amanda helped me into my wheelchair. After carefully going down the ramps, she sat in a chair at the table, and I sat in my old spot but in my wheelchair.
My waffles had strawberries and whipped cream on them. Mini chocolate chips dabbled on it. No syrup though, I don’t like it too much.
Amanda on the other hand… She might as well have syrup for breakfast.
She makes sure to fill each pocket with syrup then adds more all over it. Then she adds whipped cream and chocolate chips. She’s allergic to strawberries.
“Want some waffles with that syrup?” I asked as I started to cut mine. Amanda was the only reason we bought syrup.
She rolled her eyes. Her brown eyes really stood out without her glasses. She had left them in my room, and I had left my phone.
“Mom?” I asked and she turned to me. “Yes, honey?” I detected a hint of happiness, probably that I was cheerful once more.
“Can Amanda please stay again?” I put my hands together and extended the ‘e’. Me and Amanda had talked about what we wanted to do if she could stay.
“Sure.” Mom said simply. “Wait. That’s it?” I was confused, sometimes I had to beg for her to agree.
“Yeah. Me and Ava talked it over.” Mom said as she made her own waffle. Dad was at work, despite it being Sunday. He was a surgeon, so he only worked about four days, sometimes five a week. But his shifts are a long time. He must not have come home yet.
Mom was a lawyer, so I was lucky to have her home today, she must have finished all her lawyer stuff. She said that she was going to court for a case tomorrow so Ava would be driving me to school tomorrow.
When we had finished eating, Amanda brought me my phone and clothes so I could change downstairs, and she changed upstairs.
When I was in the bathroom, I logged into my phone. I checked the weather; it was going to storm from 5:20 until 8:30 so we had a while to be outside.
Rain helps me sleep so I slept well last night. I then changed into shorts and put on a T-shirt.
“Honey, it’s going to be chilly because of the storm.” Mom said when she saw my outfit.
“I’ll wear a hoodie.” I said with a shrug. “What about your legs?” Mom asked, as if I knew. I would already have to wear a big hoodie, so it fit my cast.
“What am I supposed to do? Cut one leg off my jeans?” Then I smirked.
“Honey…” Mom said warningly. “Amanda! Bring a pair of jeans and scissors!” Amanda responded with a confused ‘Okay’.
“Don’t do it.” Mom said when Amanda brought the stuff.
“You gave me the idea. And how else am I supposed to stay warm?” I said as I unfolded the pants. She sighed, not willing to battle me right now. “You know what? I don’t care.”
I picked the scissors up evilly after I had marked where to cut it. I giggled like a maniac and cut the jeans. When I had finished, I said, “Whoo! That felt good!” Amanda laughed.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP8S25tImX
“You are such a weirdo.” Mom said as she got her purse.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfSHzOug5Y
“Change and get shoes on.” I went back to the bathroom excitedly. When I was finished, I used my camera to see my outfit.
I looked decent; the black hoodie matched my blue jeans. The white cast obviously stood out, Amanda’s many signatures and everyone else’s even more so. That, and of course, my wheelchair.
After I was helped to put my shoes on, we soon we were in Mom’s car and heading to the park.
We were going to go to the park, then shopping, then get some lunch. Mom said we would go from there.
When I was in the car, I realized some good came out of being temporarily broken. My ribs didn’t hurt too bad, if I didn’t move too much. And my wrist barely affected me unless I hit it against something–I learned that the hard way–and I would have a pretty cool story to tell.
I smiled to myself as I looked out the window, maybe this wouldn’t be too bad.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkNLYZ8Fzg
---(AUTHORS NOTE)---63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1msh9toNOb
Hey! I apologize for publishing late! I had Open House today along with my siblings so it was a chaotic day. I also didn't have one fully prepared yet because I spent the past couple of days working on the new cover!63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIHwz3vhJO
Do you like it? I hope you do, because it took me a while! I might post the next chapter early to make up for being late.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqa7h7TBels
On that note, with school starting for me in just a couple days, writing may be delayed for me and the dates may have to change. I am not entirely sure yet, it depends on the amount of free time I have!63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeZ0Kss8SL
I'll make a note of this in my other book too.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOM43W1wnd
But, as always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, that I see you in the next one, and that you have a fantastic day/night/endless abyss! Bye!63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5EqJYRCK1
---(AUTHORS NOTE)---63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBKGBzWazG
