Here's the next chapter I hope you enjoy it. Major changes happening in this chapter.
A week goes by of being at rehab and I have fit in rather well. My support workers are always motivating me to keep going but to take it slow. Today I have another session with Dr Adams. I wake up and have a shower, get changed and have my breakfast before I leave for my session.
"How have you been this past week?" Dr Adams asks.
"Good I've started to have a feel of what goes on around here and I know where everything is now." I respond.
"That's great." Dr Adams responds. "Now last week you told me a whole bunch of stuff about yourself, today we are going to work through one of them. We are going to start at the beginning, your childhood."
"Where do you want me to start?"
"What was it like before your father died?" Julie asks.
"We were a traditional family. I had two loving parents, aunties and uncles who I adored, I had great friends."
"That's good, tell me about your family then, what was your mum and dad like before all the hard stuff?"
"My dad was strong, courageous, a fighter like myself, if he wanted something he would go for it. He had strong family values and I was his princess." I answer with a smile. "If I fluttered my eyes up at him he would let me have anything I wanted, of course I never let that go to my head. My dad looked tough but he was a huge marshmallow."
"Sounds like you and your dad were very close."
"Very close, he would take me fishing, take me up to Seattle Sky Deck for birthday dinners, he was the best dad I could ask for we were inseparable."
"Sounds like you had a blast together and that's good to remember." she responds. I nod in agreement. "What about your mother?"
"She was a stay at home mum. She cooked, cleaned, dropped and picked me up from school." I list.
"Anything else?"
"I have her personality as well as my dad's. I'm very outspoken and I speak the truth just like she does."
"Tell me about the accident, it may bring up bad memories but just take your time." She encourages.
"I was fourteen and my dad was late coming home, he was usually home at 7 and I was worried but I just thought maybe he had to work late. At midnight we heard knocking at the front door. My mum answered and there were two policeman. I crept up behind her and asked who was at the door but she ignored me. I then saw the two police officers standing in front of her and I didn't leave."
"Is that when they told her what happened?"
"Yes. The officers asked if mum was Karen Smith and told her the news."
"And what were you feeling when they said that?"
"I couldn't believe it, I thought it was a joke but we saw the photos of his car, he couldn't have gotten up from that." I answer hiding back tears. "After we had his funeral I was in denial I was still waiting for him to come home but eventually I had to come to terms with it so I cried and moved on." I explain.
"You didn't grieve?"
"I couldn't, my mum started drinking to drown her sorrows then it just went downhill from there."
"Well I think that's enough for today I can tell your getting uncomfortable so we will stop here today and next session we will continue okay."
I nod and I wipe my nose with a tissue and she escorts me out of her office. Emma is outside and walks me back to my room. "You okay?" Emma asks.
"I think so."
"Well get some sleep you look exhausted."
The next day I wake up better emotionally. I think I cried myself to sleep last night. I look in the mirror and my eyes are droopy. Maybe that's what I needed a good cry.
Emma comes in and gives me my breakfast. "How you feeling?" She asks.
"Cried my eyes out." I answer.
"Other than that any pain?"
"Uh not really, I have little snippets when I move around but I'm fine."
"Good, we haven't had to give you high doses of pain relief the last two days so that's an improvement, let's check your dressings and change everything." she says and I help her out a little. "We also called Dr Andrews from the hospital and he says you can take the neck brace off."
"Really?"
"Yes." she confirms and takes it off.
I feel my neck with my left hand softly and I can see the faint scars of my incisions. "I feel free."
She laughs. "You look good, now get up and shower, call me once you're out."
Later that day I hear a knock on my door as I am sitting on the couch watching TV. "Come in." I yell loudly. The door opens and Stephanie and Paul (Triple H) come in. "Hi Stephanie, hi Paul."
"How are you?" Stephanie asks.
"I'm good got my brace off this morning, getting there but I've got a long way to go." I answer.
"You look good." Paul compliments.
"Thanks I still feel sore but I'm tough."
"We just wanted to give you these." Stephanie says and hands me a bouquet of flowers and some chocolates.
"Thank you." I thank.
"So tell us how has things been going?" Paul asks.
"Good. I've started my therapy sessions there getting better, I'm talking a lot."
"That's good to hear we are proud of you for getting the help you need." Stephanie praises.
"Wish I did it sooner."
"We all make mistakes Serena it's learning from them and moving on that will help you." Paul responds.
"You're right." I smile. "So the Authority I wasn't expecting that."
They both chuckle. "Yeah the views have been getting better each week." Stephanie comments laughing.
"Well I'm glad it's going smoothly."
"You will be back and we will have many things planned for you." Paul reinforces.
"Really?" I ask.
"Just get better first. But you'll be here for a while, we just wanted to see how you were doing here all by yourself." Stephanie mentions.
"I'm fine I always have someone around. Mum calls everyday so it's not that bad, but it would be nice for more visitors."
"Dually noted, we better head off, get better soon."
"I will be back." I exclaim.
They both nod smiling. "Yeah you will."
After my visit from Stephanie and Paul I head to the outside common area to get some sun. Being in a room most of the day gets boring and I need some vitamin D so I grab a sketch pad and head outside.
Outside I sit on a bench under huge trees that overlook the rehab. I look around and begin to sketch the view in front of me. Sketching is a task that I've been given to get mobility back in my arm as drawing uses my fine motor skills to build up my muscles slowly.
I glance up and down several times when I see a dog run up to me wagging its tail and going crazy. I put my pad down and pat the dog with my left hand. "Hey there." I say to the dog. "What are you doing, where's your owner?"
I look around for anyone and I hear a female voice calling after the dog. "Tess, Tess."
I stand up. "Over here." I shout.
I hear running coming up the the hill and a tall brunette woman runs towards us. The dog who I'm guessing is Tess runs over to her him and she starts to pat him. She looks up at me and I smile. She looks familiar like I have seen her face before but I can't remember where. As she walks in my direction and she gets closer I realise who it is and I smile. That's Phoebe Tonkin from The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. "OMG you're Sarah." She says excitedly.
I laugh. "And your Phoebe or should I say Hayley."
She chuckles. "OMG I'm so tackles, I'm so sorry, it's just I'm a huge wwe fan and you are like crazy good. I haven't been able to watch in a few months but you're amazing."
I smile. "Thanks, I love what I please call me Serena."
"Phoebe." She copies. "Sorry about Tess bothering you."
"No worries she didn't bother me at all, it's the only bit of excitement I've had in a while." I respond.
She looks at me. "You're a patient here?"
I gesture to my arm in a knowing way. "Yeah."
"May I ask what happened?"
"I injured myself at work."
"Wow, are you okay?"
"Yeah, the easy bit is done it's the hard stuff now."
"When you say you injured yourself, was it in the ring?"
"Yeah I have a lot of personal issues as well to deal with so I thought might make the most of this long break."
"Do you mind if I join you for a bit?"
"Not at all, I kind of miss talking to people."
"How long have you been here for?"
"About a week, I'll probably be here until the end of the year."
"You said you noticed me?"
"Yeah not instantly but when you walked up I remembered your face, I like to watch TV when I find the time, and coincidentally the two shows you've been on are a couple favourites of mine."
"Good to hear."
"I'm sorry about before when I just bombarded you with questions."
"Hey don't apologise. I love my fans, but I can really see your just passionate about WWE, just like any other big fan, it's just with being out I miss it and you noticing me reminded me why I'm fighting to get back and be better than ever."
"When did you start again?"
"I started in April just after Wrestlemania and I injured myself two months ago so I kind of miss it."
"May I ask the real reason why you got injured?"
"Maybe another time, but it wasn't an accident." I respond.
"So someone hurt you on purpose?"
"Yes, but don't worry the person that did it is locked away."
"Good to hear."
"So why are you here?"
"I help volunteer for some of the programs and it's also helpful as set is close by." She answers. "So I'm guessing you are a fan of the show?"
I scoff playfully. "Maybe."
"You're funny, but really are you a fan of the show?"
"As I said before, I don't really have time for tv but I have watched both of your shows."
We sit and talk for a while and I look at my phone to see the time and it's time for me to head back to my room. "I better head back, I have to get ready for dinner otherwise my carer is going to kill me."
"I won't keep you, but it was lovely meeting you I hope I'll see you round." He responds.
"Likewise, good luck with filming."
Once back in my room I feel a smile appear on my face. It felt good just talking to someone I didn't know. I hear a knock at the door. "Coming." I say and opening it. Behind it is a familiar face that still makes me have butterflies. "Colby." I smile.
"Hi." He greets
"What are you doing here?" I ask curiously.
"I heard that Paul and Stephanie came to visit you and they said you were doing well and I just had to see for myself."
"Come in." I gesture and he enters. "Don't you have to be on the road?"
"Not for a couple hours." he answers. "You look good."
I laugh. "I don't feel it but thank you, I do feel a lot better though."
"I can tell you are smiling again." he notices. "How's your therapy?"
"Better than I thought, you were right, talking to someone helps."
"How are your injuries?"
"Still sore, but I haven't had to have high doses of pain relief in the past few days, just at night when I sleep."
"It's good to see, you're doing well."
"I appreciate the visit."
"Do you want to go for a walk?"
"My carer is about to come in half an hour but we can just talk."
"I'd like that." He smiles.
