Chapter 13—
A/N: Look I would appreciate any and all feedback on this story. Actually I am running out of ideas for keeping this story going… I am asking for your help.
Colonel Holden walked into the room, where Jeremy was sitting in a chair near the window. Colonel Holden stood there for a moment, waiting for Jeremy to acknowledge him. When Jeremy did not acknowledge him, he gently cleared his throat.Jeremy then said,
"Is there someone here?" It never occurred to Colonel Holden to announce his presence in the room, as this was not something he had ever had to do.
"Private, it is Colonel Holden." Colonel Holden announced. Jeremy immediate stood and saluted the Colonel.
"At ease, I should apologize for not announcing myself." Colonel Holden admitted.
"Sir, I am sorry I did not hear you come in. I am trying to get used to the fact people may have to tell me they are here." Jeremy admitted.
"Son, no need to apologize, I here more on a social call, and some Army business. Lets have a seat." Colonel Holden motioned to the chairs, but of course of the motion was lost on Jeremy.
"I wanted to see how you were doing, as Amanda says that you are doing well." Colonel Holden was trying to make idol conversation.
"Sir, my knee is getting stronger everyday. As for everything else, I am learning how to deal with not seeing the world." Jeremy said.
"Sir, I do not mean to be rude, but why are you here?" Jeremy asked curiously.
"Well, I am here to tell you that you have been put in for a medal, for your bravery in Iraq." Colonel Holden said with a smile.
"Sir, why I am getting a medal? I have not done anything to get a medal." Jeremy was confused, as he could not think of anything that would make him worthy of the honor.
"The day that you were injured you pulled two soldiers out of a hum-ve before it exploded, and you got a face full of shrapnel. Is that not right?" Colonel Holden asked, as he was confused with Jeremy's modesty.
"Yeah, I did pull those soldiers out of the hum-ve, but I do not that think that is heroic, even medal worthy. As I was doing my job." Jeremy said quietly. By that point, Frank walked into the room, really not surprised to see Colonel Holden in the room. Frank knew what the Colonel was planning on doing, but he wanted the honor to surprise Jeremy.
"Hi, Dad." Jeremy said.
"How did you know it was me?" Frank asked.
"I can tell by your heavy footsteps, you must have just come from the field." Jeremy replied. Jeremy's instincts had become more acute. He had been told that when you lose one sense all the remaining senses get better. He did not necessarily believe that, what he did believe was that he just paid better attention.
"Colonel Holden, to what do we owe the visit?" Again Frank was well aware of the reason for the visit, but he just trying to let Jeremy have his moment.
"I was just explaining to Jeremy, that he has been given a medal for his bravery in Iraq. He and his modesty are surprised." Colonel Holden stated.
"Jeremy, that is quiet an honor. You should be very proud." Frank gleamed like a proud father.
"And Jeremy, I would like to hold a ceremony for you and a couple of the honorees." Colonel Holden's words stunned Jeremy. However, Jeremy did not like the idea of a ceremony, as he felt that everyone would see him up on stage and it would turn into a pity ceremony.
"Colonel Holden, with all due respect, I am very proud and honored to be given this commendation, but a ceremony for me is completely unnecessary. And Sir, I really do not want that kind of attention with my current situation." Jeremy said respectfully waving his hands over his blank staring eyes.
Colonel Holden was a little taken back by Jeremy's modesty; however, he did respect Jeremy's honesty. Then Colonel Holden had another idea,
"Jeremy, I respect your wishes, however, I have another idea. What would you say to have a semi-private ceremony, with just your family and friends? It would not be the spectacle that a public ceremony would be."
Jeremy thought for a minute, and then reluctantly agreed to the semi-private ceremony.
"Good, we will start planning this private ceremony for shortly after you get home, which I hear from your Dad will be in a week or so." Colonel Holden was always happy to show case soldiers who had done a good job, and those who earned the commendations.
"I guess word travels fast, oh yeah this is an Army post." Jeremy laughed. This is one of the first times in weeks that Frank heard his son laugh, it was good to hear.
"Jeremy, your mother and I are very proud of you. And we are looking forward to you coming home." Jeremy too was looking forward to leaving the hospital, but not really to going home. He had not been home since he enlisted; there was an unnerving feeling about going home.
"Yeah, me too." Jeremy said.
At that point there was a knock on the door; it was Steve, the physical therapist.
"Jeremy… Oh, I am sorry I did not mean to interrupt, I will come back later."
"No, stay, I was just leaving." Colonel Holden said. Colonel Holden stood up and so did Jeremy.
As the Colonel walked out, Jeremy replied, "Thank you, sir".
After the Colonel left, Frank left shortly after, as Jeremy needed to get to physical therapy and then occupational therapy. In the recent weeks, Jeremy had become pretty proficient at using the white cane. However, proficient Jeremy became the more he hated it, as this was a constant reminder to the world that he was blind. The hospital had been a safe place for Jeremy, because it had been a controlled environment, but he was going home to start life. He had been contemplating what he wanted to do, as the plan before he enlisted was to go to college.
As he and Steve walked to the physical therapy room, there was a silence between the two men. Steve finally broke the silence,
"You must be excited about going home soon. As going home will help you develop a routine, and it will be nice to be around your family." Steve said; actually he was fishing for a conversation.
"I guess." Jeremy replied solemnly.
"What do you mean, 'you guess'? Most people cannot wait to get out of here." Steve said.
"I want to get out of here, but going home means that I am going to have to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. And right now, I have no clue." Jeremy said as he walked with the cane clicking as he walked.
"Ah yes, I have been waiting to have this discussion with you." Steve had been a physical therapist for a long time, and almost inevitably a similar conversation always occurred with patients with permanent disabilities. It was not a bad conversation, but it meant that the patient had some very hard choices to make. In Jeremy's case, he had to find a place for blind ex-soldier, and that could be a tough transition.
"What are you talking about?" Jeremy asked.
"Come on, we are going to skip physical therapy this afternoon, and we are going to talk." Steve took Jeremy's arm, and led Jeremy to his office. Once in the office Steve helped Jeremy to find a chair in front of his desk.
"Steve, did I say something wrong? Because you have not let me out of physical therapy before." Jeremy was surprised, and unsure of what was happening.
"Not at all, but there comes a time when a patient looks to the future, and wonders what is next. And it is often a very scary and unnerving place to be. I know that when I injured my knee, and the doctors told me that I would never be able to run again, I was crushed, because running was the only thing that I thought I was good at. Look, I realize my injury does not compare to the lost of sight. But there are some similarities. I know that you are getting tired of hearing it is going to take time, but it is the truth." Steve said.
"I agree with you, a knee injury does not compare very well with not seeing anything. But I just do not know what I am going to do with my life. I could go to college, but I do not know what to study… or for that matter how to study… um blind. I do not want to always rely on my parents." Jeremy expressed with a relief of actually being able say those words.
"Jeremy, you have come a long way in very short time. When you got here, you were angry, proverbially beaten up. Actually, I saw you when you got here… you were pretty beaten up. Now you have started to accept the new limitations… the fact that you are even thinking about college is huge. But I will have to say this to you… there are some other things that you need to learn before you go off to college; basically some other life skills. I would suggest that you learn Braille, and how to use other assistive technology for the visually impaired. I will tell you that your life will be different and there will be challenges without a disability, but there are tools available for you." Steve was pretty impressed with how far Jeremy had come in accepting his disabilities. Frankly, it was a surprise to him that Jeremy was even thinking about going to college.
"Where do I learn that stuff? Do I have to stay in the hospital?" Jeremy asked.
"There are a number of options. The first being a place called 'New sight'. It is an organization that helps people transition with disabilities. Actually it is not too far from post. If you are interested, I can make a phone call. And no you would not stay at the hospital; this would all be done by as an outpatient." Steve said thoughtfully.
"Can I think about it? I would like to talk with my parents." Jeremy had a strange feeling of relief.
"Yeah, take your time. I hope that I was not too hard on you during your physical therapy session this afternoon." Steve laughed.
"Not at all. Thanks. I need to get back to my room, as Mom and Dad are taking me out for dinner, and I would like to change clothes." Jeremy was a little nervous about going out in public for the first time, but it had to be done some time. Plus, Jeremy was going home in a few days, so he was going to have to get used to it.