Jack woke up, feeling groggy. He heard voices in the hallway outside his room. He rubbed his eyes, his arms heavy. He frowned.
This wasn't his bedroom.
This wasn't his house.
He was in hospital. In a bed. In a ward.
He looked at the machines he was hooked up to. He had zero idea heat half of them did, but he pressed the call button on that hung from his bed rail and waited. A nurse would come, right? A doctor? Someone?
His door opened within seconds, revealing a doctor, a nurse and his mom and dad.
"Jackson! You're awake!" his mother cried, rushing to his side.
"Wh- yeah... why am I here?" he asked, his mind strangely foggy. Most likely had something to do with all the machines.
"Jackson... something terrible happened to you... and we had to make a decision to save your life."
He frowned. "What?"
"You don't remember what happened?" his father finally spoke up.
Jack shook his head. He had no idea what was going on, why would he know what happened?
"You were in a terrible accident... and to save you we had to... as your mother said, make a huge decision."
The doctor stepped closer, warily. The nurse looked at him and walked around to the other side of Jack's bed.
"May I explain?" the doctor suggested.
His father nodded, making way for the doctor.
"Mr Overland unfortunately we had to amputate your right leg below the knee."
Jack felt his whole world stop. He couldn't stop this crazy, rushing feeling that made its way through his head as his brain tried to make sense of what the doctor said.
His right leg had been amputated.
He had no right leg. Lower leg. He had no leg below his knee.
He was no longer 'whole'. He felt a sickening feeling in his chest. A tight, restrictive feeling that wanted to overflow into actual vomit. He pulled the sheets back from his lower body and gasped. "No..." he whispered. He looked at his parents. "Mom... my... my leg..."
She nodded, tears filling her eyes. "Jackson, it was the hardest decision we ever had to make. Trust me. I am so sorry."
He breathed in a deep, shaky breath. "Why..." he shook his head. "This... this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me."
His father, who wasn't an empathetic man at all, sighed. "Jackson, this is for your own good. You will thank us that you are alive. You should also be grateful that I earn enough to keep you in hospital, and have you rehabilitated by the best."
"Dear, how about we try and make Jackson feel more comfortable, rather than stressing him out" his mother said, touching his fathers arm.
His father nodded. "Good idea. Let's hire him a psychologist."
His mother sighed. "Whatever you want James."
"What do you want me to say? We both work. We don't have time to sit around in here all day. I don't want to have to fork out extra money for Emma's nanny."
"You're the only one insistent on keeping her around. Emma will be twelve this year, she doesn't need a nanny."
"Mr and Mrs. Overland, may I please suggest not fighting in the hospital?" the nurse said softly.
Jack chuckled, although it came out harsh. "That is just how they speak to each other."
"Oh, sorry."
Jack looked back at his leg. It was repulsive to him. He couldn't look away. He felt like a child staring at someone 'different' for the first time. That odd curiosity that they held. He leaned over and touched the bandage that covered his lower limb. He couldn't believe that under this would be what was left of his lower leg. That small piece of muscle that will eventually... hopefully support a prosthetic limb.
He couldn't believe this happened. His dream of figure skating dimmed. It was like the lights had gone out in that part of his life. It was just a dream to him now. He felt tears fall from his eyes again. It would take a long time for him to get where he was... if he even could.
Then he thought about his students. His figure skating students. That was his career. Teaching fucking ice staking. Did his students know what happened? Did they know that he was in hospital? How long had he even been in here?
His mother placed her warm hand on his. It felt like it was burning him. He looked up at her.
"I'll visit when I can."
He nodded, knowing that meant 'rarely'. 'Never'.
His father just nodded and they left the room.
He guessed he didn't expect much more of them. He looked at the doctor and nurse.
"The physiotherapist will see you in your room" said the doctor. "Monday around nine, okay?"
He nodded.
The nurse started taking his temperature, checked his heart rate and asked him a bunch of questions. "Did you need to go to the bathroom?" she finished with.
He shook his head.
"Okay. When you need to go you will need to buzz for a nurse. Don't be afraid to buzz. We do get busy, but we won't forget about you." She looked at his medication "Full name and date of birth."
He replied and took the medicine. Wincing as it went down. He finished the water. "Could I please have more water?"
She nodded, scribbling on his file. "Absolutely. I will get you a bottle, how is that?"
He nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
"Oh, also Jackson, the doctor forgot to tell you that mid next week you will be attending Occupational Therapy as well."
"Occupational Therapy? What is that?"
"Its when they help you to redo things that help in every day life. For example Ana may do some cooking and food prep with you and find ways to make doing things in your daily life easier."
He nodded. "Okay."
"I'll be back with that water."
He looked towards the window. He felt like his whole life had shattered. What was he going to do now?