Waking Up

A few days later Colby opened his eyes while his parents were sat either side of him. Danny hadn't left his side since he was brought in and Maggie had only ever left his side to work her shifts at County. She hadn't wanted to go but they needed the money.

"Mum, dad," he rasped. Danny fixed him a drink of water and gave it to him. He drunk it and added, "What happened?"

They were both so relieved he was finally awake and out of a coma. They were just worried how he would take his amputation. He'd always been so sporty and athletic and now he was an amputee.

"You had a motorbike accident. You came off your bike in the middle of the road and your leg landed on a ridged grate."

"My leg!" he said going to scratch it as it felt so itchy.

Maggie grabbed his hand and asked, "What are you doing?"

"My leg is so itchy; so incredibly itchy."

"Colby, you lost your leg..." He looked at her shocked. "It had to be amputated."

"No, no, I can feel it," he answered distressed.

"Son, you're suffering from a phenomena called phantom leg."

"No, no, I didn't lose my leg," he shouted snatching his hand away and pulling the blanket away from over his leg.

When he saw the stump he went as white as a sheet. He'd lost his leg. He couldn't use his leg anymore; it was gone. What was he going to do? How was he going to carry on? He was on the football, soccer and basketball teams at school and now he could no longer even walk. He even used to do athletics but no longer could. He couldn't even drive his own motorbike anymore. Everything was gone.

"They're offering you a prosthetic leg," Danny said.

"I want my leg back," Colby shouted.

"Colby, if they didn't take your leg you'd have lost your leg. They tried all they could to save your leg but they couldn't."

"It's not fair."

"It isn't fair but it's better than losing your life."

"I can't do anything anymore. I'd be better off dead."

Maggie took his hand with tears In her eyes while Danny grabbed her hand. "Colby, please don't you say that. It's always better to be alive. We'll help you and support you as you get used to the prosthetic but it's up to you if you take it."

he looked over and saw the tears in his mother's eyes and immediately regretted saying he'd be better off dead. "Mum, I'm sorry. It's just so not fair. I'll take the leg."

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

"I want to; it will give me some of my independence back."