The Lane That Wasn't (Part 12)

Jane continued to look at the screen in front of her. The old man studied her expressions. He noticed how a look of pain came over Jane when she watched the scene the where she had told Daria about moving. He saw jealousy flash in her eyes when she saw the drawing Daria did of Melody Powers. She tried to stay expressionless but couldn't. She turned to him. His eyes had changed colors again. This time they were matching Daria's dark brown eyes. She looked down at the road that stretched ahead of her. She looked at him with a curious face.

"I have a question," Jane stated.

"Ask away," The old man shifted his gaze to sky.

"I see this road ahead of me, and I see the path behind us. They are both completely straight...no twists.. no turns... nothing. Now I know for a fact, that my old life sucked. Will I be able to see what both paths really look like?"

"No my child. I can show you what one of the roads truly looks like. One and one only. However, I would advise you not to ask to see it just yet. I can see you are still very indecisive. It would be in your best interest to wait. Also...I cannot tell you who asked me to visit you just yet. That cannot be revealed until you have started on your chosen path."

"I see. If Daria is a better artist than me in that world, does that mean I am a better writer than she was?"

"Yes.. but not because it evens the playing field. You are both better because you have had each other to feed off of longer. Let me ask you a question.. do you think you are a better artist since you have met Daria?"

Jane nodded. The old man continued, "Now just think if you had met her five years ago or in the case of what you are watching seven years ago. Just imagine what your creativity would be like today."

"It sounds to me like you are a little biased," Jane huffed.

"I am but not for the reasons you may think. You have to remember Jane.. even though I am here with youI'm not here for you. I am here because someone else wants you on this path."

"Does this other person know what will happen to Daria if I take the road you're offering?"

The old man shook his head. "You have only seen the immediate aftermath of the wreck.. perhaps you need to look a little further down the road."

"You're certain this won't affect me in my time."

"Your real body is still resting and we have only spent the equivalent of eight minutes in real time here. Like I said before...jumping forward will not affect your time line at all."

"Well.. the earliest Daria would have been allowed to come home was one month after the wreck. Let me see three months from the time of the wreck."

The old man typed in the date and hit the enter button. A new set of scenes came forward. The hospital was no longer on the screen. He handed Jane back the futuristic laptop. Jane sighed for a moment. Instantly, a pizza and two sodas appear before her. The old man opened the box and pulled out a slice.

"Yeah.. even I get hungry sometimes," The old man smiled.

-

Three months after the wreck...

Jane is typing on the computer. I need to get this story finished before Friday. I just had to tell Mr. O'Neill I had read all of those books. Jane heard the front door close. A smile came over Jane's face when she heard Daria and Quinn laughing. I'm glad to see that they are getting along better. As Trent walked her room, she could see why her two sisters were laughing. The front of his shirt was covered in soda.

"Missed your mouth again Tee?"

Trent gave a slight chuckle. He took his shirt off and brought it to the laundry room. A few moments later, Daria wheeled into the room. She put on the breaks after she aligned the chair to the bed. The muscles in her arms have begun to get very defined. She transferred herself onto the bed and collapsed.

"Hard day of therapy?" Jane asked without looking in Daria's direction.

"Yeah.. but my stamina is getting better. After my leg exercises, I was still able to swim four laps and do twenty sit-ups."

"That's good. Do you still hate the leg machine?"

"Hate, loathe, despise.. don't begin to describe my feelings for that machine."

"At least it's keeping your muscles strong," Jane moved her computer chair over to Daria's bed.

"Yeah and check it out," Daria said as she struggled to make her right foot move. A smile of accomplishment came over her face.

"Mom and dad are going to flip when they see that. Does it hurt?"

"No...but I really have to concentrate to do that."

"At least you have some nerve impulses traveling through those legs. They checked for sores today right?"

"Yes mom I've got a clean bill of health so far. The doctor said who ever has been tending to my scars has been doing a wonderful job. Thanks sis." Daria reached up for Jane's hand and gave it a squeeze.

Jane returned the gesture, "I need to keep you around so that you can kill me before Friday."

"Still dealing with writer's block?" Daria tightened her grip on Jane's hand and pulled herself up.

"Yeah.. it's so bad I asked Mr.O'Neill for advice. Instead he altered the subject," Jane sighed.

"Now what does he want you to do?"

"Write a story using people I know and revolve it around a game of cards."

"You know you could always be evil and write a story in which our teachers are playing strip poker," Daria smirked.

"Are you trying to make me lose my appetite?" Jane winced.

Daria laughed, "You might want to. Trent has band practice tonight and I have already heard dad mention something about kitchen sink stew."