Jake's phone beeped indicating that he had a message. It was from Emily. It was the first time since they had spoken in San Diego that she was contacting him. Jake opened the message. It contained a little animation and read: Happy 29thBirthday. Please call me. E.
Jake closed the message again and checked the time. It was 8:25 and he was still in bed. As was his custom he slept on his stomach, so now he pushed himself up on his side. He reached for one knee and pulled it level with his hip. This way he was lying stable and didn't have to use his arms for balance. It was his birthday. He had tried to ignore the fact. He preferred this day to be indistinguishable from any other day. His first birthday as the new Jake Sully. No technically his second, but a year earlier he had been in hospital in an induced coma, so his previous birthday had passed unrecognized. When he had woken up on the ninth of August a year before, no one had made mention of it. Maybe they thought it tactful—that he wouldn't be able to handle it emotionally or maybe they had simply forgotten. Either way he was glad about it.
He contemplated giving in to Emily's wish. If he was honest with himself, he still missed her. He put the phone down. After a couple of minutes he picked it up again. Oh what the hell. He dialed her number.
Emily answered after the first ring. "Happy birthday, Jake and thanks for calling me back."
"Hi Emily, how are you?"
"I'm good Jake. How are you?
"I'm fine.
"Where are you?"
"Don't ask me that."
"Will you please switch on the video feed? I would like to see you."
Jake hesitated a moment then he activated the video. He saw Emily's face appear on the screen of his phone. She looked agitated.
"You look good. Are you ok, Jake? Please tell me what happened."
"I got shot down."
"And?"
"I broke my back and I can't walk anymore."
"Jake, I'm so sorry." She put her hand over her mouth.
"It's okay, Emily. Just remember me how I used to be and thank you for the birthday wishes." He felt his chest constricting, cut the connection and rolled onto his back.
He swallowed a few times to regain his composure and took a couple of deep slow breaths. Seeing Emily just now had crystallized in his mind just how very much he missed her: all he wanted was to hold her and kiss her again. The sense of loneliness and isolation that he often felt became even more pronounced. He admitted to himself that he missed her desperately. Before their last big blow-up that had ended with Emily walking out on him a year earlier he had intended to ask her to marry him. He had bought a ring back then, but he'd never gotten the chance to ask her after all.
He rolled back onto his side, opened the drawer of the nightstand next to his bed and rummaged through the contents, medications mostly, until his hand found the little square box. He pulled it out and opened it. The platinum ring with a single tension-set diamond wasn't ostentatious, but then Emily had never been one for flashy jewelry. He pulled it out of the holder and regarded it. He wasn't sure why he'd kept it and looking at it now rekindled all kinds of buried pains about a life and a future he'd envisioned which now seemed utterly alien to him.
He put the ring back into the holder and placed the open box on top of his nightstand. An edge of the diamond caught the sunlight and refracted a tiny little rainbow pattern onto the white surface. Jake just lay there and looked at the ring and the prism of light. He extended his hand and caught the prism on the back of his fingers then he turned his hand over and cupped the light in his palm. He picked up the phone and called Emily a second time.
"Emily?" His tone of voice was gentle.
"Yes?"
"I'm in Denver."
"Oh, okay that's not so far. What are you doing there?"
"Nothing much. Just trying to get back on my feet."
"You mean rehab? Are you learning to walk again?"
"No, sorry. Bad choice of words. There's no chance of me walking again. I mean I'm trying to find out who I am—now."
"Oh, and who are you?"
"Hmm. I'm not sure. There are some things I do know, though. I'm a civilian, I'm paralyzed and use wheels instead of legs, I work out every day and I'm really fit and—I miss you."
"I miss you too, Jake."
"Despite the paralyzed and the wheelchair part?"
"Yes, despite of that."
"Then I would like to invite you for a visit."
"That would be nice, I would like that."
"Can you make the weekend?"
"I'm sure I can still get a flight for Saturday morning—Thank you, Jake."
"Email me when you've booked the flight."
"Can you fetch me from the airport?"
"I'd prefer if you got a cab. I'll reply to your message with my address."
"Okay. I am looking forward to seeing you."
"Me too." He rang off again.
Fuck Jake what are you doing?
He wasn't quite sure what he was trying to achieve by seeing Emily, but despite all his reservations and the slight anxiety that was now spreading in his chest it felt like the right thing to do.
It was ten thirty by the time the phone rang again. It was JJ. "Happy birthday, mate."
"Thanks, JJ. I'm trying to ignore it, but I still appreciate your call."
"Any plans for today?"
"Nah, just the usual; gym, study. If I feel really adventurous then maybe I'll take a drive out to Copper and check out my old stomping ground."
"Sounds like a plan. You need to get out more."
"What I need is a job. Studying is all very nice and good, but I need something more engaging. I've applied for a part-time position with the Denver fire department."
"As what, engine mascot?"
Jake laughed out loud "No, dispatcher. Wish me luck that I get it."
"Sure. I hope it works out."
"Thanks, JJ" He paused for a moment contemplating if he should tell JJ about his earlier conversation with Emily. He decided against it. "How are Nora and the kids?"
"They are great. Chloe is growing like you wouldn't believe."
"I'm happy to hear you are all well. I would love to see you guys again. Maybe towards the end of the year, depending on how things go with the studying and with the job."
"That would be great. You know you can come any time, brother."
"I'll make a plan. Take care, JJ"
"And you, too, Jake and good luck with the job."