Chapter 11:

Soon Zack is able to get up and walk around. He enjoys this freedom to explore his surroundings.

One day, the doctor informs Zack that he won't be able to leave for at least two weeks. Zack, finding the news unbearable, gets up and roams the halls. All of a sudden he hears a voice calling him.

"Boy!" The voice says. Zack looks around for the owner and discovers it's coming from an open doorway. Zack wanders in curiously to come face-to-face with an elderly woman.

"Are you talking to me?" He asks.

"Yes…What's your name?"

"Zack. What's yours?"

"Martha." She replies with a smile. Zack sits down in a chair.

"What's wrong, Zack?" She asks, noticing the upset look on his face.

"They just told me I have to stay here for two more weeks." He says with a gloomy sigh.

"How long have you been here?" Martha inquires.

"Almost a month."

"Ah." She says nodding, "You miss your family, yes?"

Zack nods, "Yeah…my brother's hardly ever here and my mom, well it'd be nice to have her here at night."

"I miss my family too. All my children are gone and my husband died a couple years back.

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Martha says and changes the subject, "A charming boy like you must have the ladies all over you!"

Zack laughs, then frowns thinking of Rebecca, "I have a girlfriend, but she's mad at me right now."

"How come?" She asks and Zack tells her the story of their fight.

"You should talk to her." Martha tells him when he finishes.

"That's what my friend Raine said."

"She's right, you should." Zack looks doubtful but nods.

"So tell me about this brother of yours."

"He's my twin. He's a math geek." He says with a laugh then frowns again, "Or he was."

"Was?"

"Yeah…He hasen't been doing the best in school lately."

"Oh." Martha says.

"Yep. So what was your husband like?"

"Oh," She sighs leaning back on her pillows, "He was the greatest. We met at a race. Oh how I wish I could run again, but these old legs have had their wear…I'd love to go see a race again."

Zack smiles then breaks into a little coughing fit, "I'd better go. I'm not supposed to be up for very long."

"Alright." She says understandingly, "Good bye Zack."

Zack stands and walks to the door. He turns.

"Bye Martha. Hey do you think I could come back tomorrow? About the same time?"

Martha nods, "Of course. My door's always open."