Ch.21 | Happens

Riley

"Babe you're doing so good!" Leo called from his seat on the opposite side of the room.

I held on tighter to the railings, trying to keep myself vertical.

This is my second week out of bed after being in a coma for 3 months. My entire lower body had to be operated on and some parts even replaced.

My spleen, liver, and one kidney were replaced. I had one of the first successful transplant surgeries in the America. I was pretty cool.

My legs and hip bones had been shattered from the pillar. That sucked.

I now had metal rods and bolts holding me together. Guess you could say I was part cyborg. Leo was jealous.

"Riley, just a few more steps, Love." Amanda walked on the other side of the railing, ready to catch me at any moment.

She never had to though. I was stronger then her other patients.

I hadn't taken a fall.

Yet. The day was still early.

"Do I get a hamburger if I complete this?" I asked, out of breath.

"Riley we talked about this." Amanda looked at me like an angry mother.

"Yeah yeah, nothing high in protein until my kidneys stop shitting themselves. Got it." I rolled my eyes and pushed towards the end of the walkway.

Amanda and Leo rushed to me with a wheelchair and congratulations. Jeez you'd think I just pushed out a kid or something.

"How much longer until she can get back on the military horse?" Leo asked as they rolled me back to my room.

"Not sure, Leo. Don't rush her." Amanda and Leo had an ongoing argument about me and what's best.

I was starting to feel like a third wheel.

"I'm not rushing her. Just miss ordering her around. The bedroom isn't the same." He sighed and I felt my face turn bright red.

"Woah! Slow down there cowboy." Amanda was also a shade of red.

We all bursted out laughing.

"Soon," I smiled at Leo. He nodded and put his hand on my shoulder.

It was crazy how close the three of us have become the last 2 weeks. It was something completely unexpected but very much welcomed.

We arrived in my room and the two watched me walk from the door to my bed. More rounds of congrats and happy smiles and then they were gone.

And I was alone again.

I wanted to beg them to stay but Leo had to go back to training my squad mates.

Amanda had other patients.

They both promised they'd be back but it wasn't something they could promise. Patients died and meetings come up.

It happens. Doesn't make it any less lonely though.

I loved the daily visits from them both, but they were starting to become a lot less daily.

Leo came by every chance he got but it felt like he was fading away. Amanda was becoming overwhelmed by the amount of patients coming in.

It happens.

I sighed and sat up from my bed. I wasn't gonna sit here for hours and overthink.

I was given permission to go outside for a walk once a day. It would be more but I wasn't even at 80% yet.

Soon.