Curiosity Killed the Friendship

Chapter two- Rock Bottom

Tracey, had been admitted to a mental institution, following her actions, leading to Kevin's emotional destruction a week before. She felt no remorse and was still very pleased with herself. Her parents, decided to move away from Arcadia, as they couldn't bare to face the Girardis at the mall and passing their house every day to and from work, knowing, what emotional distress, their daughter Tracey, had called upon this family, which already had so much to endure.

Since he'd been dumped by Tracey and found out that she had played with his heart, in order to satisfy her own curiosity, about how his disability affected certain parts of his body and how his vulnerability and his leg's lifelessness aroused her, Kevin, hadn't been to work, nor to basketball practise. He just couldn't bring himself to it. Why, he could barely get out of bed in the morning, only doing so, after all the other family members, had been to his room to check on him. To asure themselves, that he was still alive, though barely so! His heart was still beating, but emotionally and physically he was a zombie. One day flowing into the next, without him taking notice and he couldn't care less, as he emotionally had hit an all time low, bottomless pit, or so it seemed. Last time he'd felt anything near this depressed, was when he had woken up in the hospital, after the accident and learned that he would never walk again. Back then, he'd thought that he'd hit rock bottom, now, he knew better!

Kevin, felt used, betrayed and humiliated by Tracey. Angry with himself, as he had let his guard down and had been stupid enough to think, that she really loved him. What in the world had he been thinking! He was a paraplegic, wheel chair bound and what could he ever offer a girl, that a 'normal' guy couldn't!

Kevin, now spent his days alone in his room, not wanting company, not even that of his family, which he knew cared deeply for him. He just wanted to be alone, with his hurt feelings, the greatest of all that of uselessness and self-pity, which had sunk in deep the past week. Why, was he even still alive? What use was he to anyone, including himself! His family, would have a lot less problems without him, financially. Their stress level would be reduced significantly, not having to worry about his gloominess and what kind of future he would have, if any! These thoughts, played in his mind, while he stared into space in his room, lit only by the bed-side table lamp.

Helen, was deeply worried about her oldest son's emotional well being. He had a glazed look in his eyes, mostly stared into space and kept to himself in his room. He hardly ate any of the meals, which the rest of the family brought to his room. As his emotional disstress, already overloaded his system, it left no room for hunger. Once more, Helen wanted the family to get counseling. She decided to talk it over with Will, once he got home from work that evening.

Joan, too was worried about her older brother. She hadn't ever seen him this depressed. Not even, when he had received the news at the hospital, that he was paralyzed and would never walk again! That's how hard, Tracey's wicked plan had mentally gotten a hold on her brother! She felt guilty too,as she'd okayed Tracey asking him out, believing her, when she said that she loved him and wouldn't hurt his feelings! Why, hadn't she seen through Tracey's facade? How gullible could a person get! If it would take back what had happened, Joan would gladly have kicked her shin! Sadly enough, that wouldn't turn back the clock and mend Kevin's emotional state of mind!

Friday, a week after Kevin's disasterous date with Joan's former friend Tracey, Joan went up to his room and knocked on the door. She waited a while without getting an answer. Worried, she opened the door, to find Kevin lying on his bed, motionless! Joan ran across the room, to his bed and started shaking his body vigorously! She stopped, when he let out a panic stricken cry, not knowing who was shaking him, or if the person was trying to harm him. Softly, she let the weight of his upper body, sink back onto the pillow for support. "Thank goodness you're alive!" Joan, exclaimed with a big sigh of relief. For a moment, she had thought her brother to be dead. Without thinking, Joan, then embraced Kevin, in a big hug. So happy, that he was still alive, she let her tears flow, as she continued to embrace him, kissing him all over his face and neck.

Somewhere along the road, Joan's highly emotional state, aroused something in Kevin's sub-conscious mind and he shed a few tears. Joan, held Kevin's head in her hands, looking him straight in the eye, her tears blurring her vision, yet, she saw a somewhat drugged look in his eyes. This was probably caused by the painkillers, which she knew he took to relieve his back pain. In an angry, yet relieved tone of voice, she scolded him for freightening her like that, lying motionless on the bed, having her believe, that he was dead!

"I wish I was dead! I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, when you decided to shake me back to reality!" Only then, did Joan, notice the empty medicine bottle on his bed-side table, which had contained his pain medication!

"Kevin, how many of these pills did you take! Answer me, dad gum you!" Joan yelled out hysterically. Once more gazing into his eyes, this time to catch a lie, if he should produce one.

"Oh don't worry Joan, there were only two left in the bottle. I took those this morning, to kill my back ache." Kevin replied weakly, without flinching. Joan, was relieved, as she believed, that he had told her the truth, about the amount of pills he'd taken. Still, she kept on looking into his eyes, searching for a sign, that he was fading on her, as his voice had been so alarmingly weak.

Helen, was cleaning up in the garage, hearing Joan's hysterical voice, ran up stairs and burst into Kevin's room. Finding the two oldest of her kids, gazing into eachother's tearfilled eyes, Helen embraced them both, realizing, that they were both okay. Tears filling her eyes in emotion, she told them how much she loved them. Joan said "I love you too mom!" Kevin's voice was weak, yet audiable, as he said "I love you both a lot!" At which they all three tightened the embrace. A few moments later, Helen, pulled herself out of the embrace, to take a good look at Kevin. O'boy, did he ever look weak, his face pale, cheeks hollow and even his upper body was limp, as he hardly had any energy left in him! Helen, told Kevin to stay put, while she fixed some soup for him, which he'd better eat, or his body would cave in on him!

While, Joan waited with Kevin, for their mom to bring up the soup, Luke and will, too entered the room. One by one, they gave Kevin, a warm and loving hug. Then they stood back and they both stared at him, stricken by his pale and weak appearance. Kevin, too weak to notice, just leaned his head back against the pillow. He only strirred, when Helen, returned with the cup of soup, already cooled down to drinking temperature and a straw, as she was afraid he'd otherwise spill the soup on himself and the bed sheets.

That Friday evening, Kevin's way to emotional recovery began. The love of his family, was slowly pulling him out of the bottomless pit he'd fallen into. He'd a long way yet to go, before he would even reach the mental and emotional state of mind, which he had before the affair with Tracey, but with the support of his great family, he'd get there, and most likely beyond that point too, one day!

In bed that evening, Joan, looked back on the day in retrospect and it dawned on her, why God, hadn't warned her about Tracey's true intentions, concerning Kevin. God knew, that this family, would get closer and stronger, as they faced yet another drama and conquered it, by supporting and loving one another, as much as they did!