Chapter 26: Reflections
Carter sat in his hospital bed, eating a breakfast roll that the Elli had given him before she left. The doctor was back upstairs, going through medical books to find out what tests he needed to run later to figure out if Carter possessed true paralysis or if he might be able to recover from it with physical therapy. But sometimes the patient knows more than the doctor. Deep down in his soul, Carter knew he was going to be paralyzed for life. There was nothing there. If he couldn't see them with his own eyes, touch them with his hands, Carter would never have believed it if somebody told him he had legs. He couldn't even feel a void where they once were. It was as if they had never existed.
Maybe it was because of his priestly nature, but he had come to accept this already. Carter was perfectly willing to live life in a wheelchair if he had too. That was the errand the doctor had sent Elli on. Till they could get a proper wheelchair delivered to the town, the doctor was hoping that Gotz and Saibara, between the two of them, would be able to build a functioning wheelchair. Gotz's carpentry to build the chair and Saibara's blacksmith skills to affix it with wheels. That way, Carter would sooner be able to learn to adapt to his new lifestyle and be happy again.
The doctor didn't understand it at all though. What Carter really wanted more than anything was to resume his place as the priest of his church. He wanted to see little May and Stu's darling faces again. He wanted to bring light back into the lives of the grieving townsfolk. That was what was truly going to make him happy. He didn't care if he walked again, so long as he could continue to help the people of Mineral Town like he always had. Happiness wasn't going to come from walking. Happiness is doing what one loves best.
Carter, having finished his breakfast roll, began to take a sip of the lukewarm tea that Elli had made for him. The doctor had added a bit of medicine into it, to help Carter calm his mind. He didn't need it though.
Carter's thoughts returned to the grieving townsfolk. He had duties to perform once he got out of bed. There was a pair of funerals to perform for the late Won and Manna, may the Harvest Goddess bless their souls. And Duke, he must be getting along horribly. Out of all the married couples in the town, they were closest to each other. Sure they squabbled from time to time, but it was good natured fighting at best. And they were the longest married couple too. Duke was so certain that he and Manna would live a happy life as they grew old together. With such a horrific end to that dream, it would probably take Duke a long time to be able to get on with his life as he once did.
Carter took down the last bit of the tea in one gulp and grimaced. The medicine had sunk to the bottom of the cup. He sat it to the side just as he heard the front door to the hospital open. Good, he thought to himself, Elli is back.