The way back

Date: 22nd July 2006

He realizes that it is difficult to sleep with one leg propped up on two pillows and it kept straight by a brace. The medication wears off as evening appears and his pain begins to kick in again. He is awake now. Props himself up on the bed and slowly steps off it.

Pain

He is now grappling for his crutches, which he finally nurses in his shoulders. He begins a short drag/walk/hop to the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, as he goes about his business, the aluminum crutches make a fair amount of racket clanging with the tiled floor and ceramic fittings. Shortly there after, he makes his way to back to bed, which is temporarily housed in the living room.

Pain

Considers turning the TV on but decides against it. It is dark outside. It is dark inside. He needs to take his next set of pills but he can’t do so until he eats something first. He doesn’t feel like warming up pre made food and craves for made-warm meal. Today he feels he is on the edge of frustration. So he makes up his mind and gets up again, this time only using his left crutch.

Pain

He makes it straight for the door, picking up the car keys from the ledge. The door opens to a short stair case. He sighs as he makes his way down the stairs by sliding his rear end on each step. It is faster this way. The main door is spring loaded and requires him to use the crutch to hold the door open. He steps the last step standing up.

Pain

The car has gathered considerable dust. In the faint parking lot light, he can make out dullness.

Pain

The door is opened wide. He enters backwards. Drops the crutch on the ground. Holds on to the A pillar as he slowly yanks his legs in side the car. The right leg is the good leg and makes it in fine. The left leg needs to be bent. So he bends his left knee.

Pain

The door is pulled shut. The key is inserted. The instrument panel glows to life. He now carefully places his left foot on the clutch. Breathes in and presses the clutch pedal.

Pain. Pain.

The key turns. The engine fires, the rev counter breathes life into the needle! He slots the gear. The right foot moderates the throttle as he slowly depresses the clutch pedal. The car nudges forward, slowly at first, but only just. He goes around the apartment complex, each time bending the knee to shift up and to shift down as he pulls it in back into the parking space. He turns the ignition off and the dials go dark again. The knee is tingling severely but he is smiling wide. The heart is beating healthy.

No Pain. No Pain at all.