Unbelievable Dedication, Unimpeded Progress, Unpleasant News

Unbelievable Dedication

It's been three weeks since I was sent home from the hospital. I've had to put drawing on hold for a bit. Now I only sketch during times and places where I can't do my exercises, so I haven't stopped drawing completely, I'm just prioritizing my recovery. Usually Jonathan hangs around and helps me or just watches and keeps me company. And they've stepped up my physio after my relentless begging. I have my appointments twice as often now and they are longer as well. I'm doing so well now that they're talking about finding me a special program that will further improve my chances. My parents told them that money is no issue, so they're looking into it.

Jonathan and I are sitting at breakfast after Mom and Dad have left for work. "Hey beautiful, I was thinking…"

"Uh oh, it's always dangerous when a boy says that!" I tease him.

"No silly, it's nothing bad. I was just thinking that maybe since you've been working so hard, that you deserve a rest. I thought maybe tomorrow night I could treat you to a movie and we could spend the evening out celebrating your progress?" He smiles.

Hmm, that does sound awesome, of course, but if I start slacking off again, even for one night, it might be harder to get back on track. "Jonathan, I'd love to go with you to a movie, it's just, not a good time. I'm really trying to impress the physiotherapists right now so they will see that I'm worthy of getting into the best program possible. If I justify a night off now, I will be more likely to do it again the next time I feel like taking a break and so on. It's the slight edge principle." I sigh. "So, thank you, honey for the offer, but there'll be lots of time for date nights, once I'm better." I smirk. We always make 'once I'm better' comments and most of them involve exploring different sexual positions, so I figure he'll laugh at my use of the phrase.

"Yeah, okay. Forget I said anything. Are you done eating? I can do these dishes and then meet you in there if you want to go get started." He smiles, although it seems a little forced. I want him to know I appreciate his help and his patience with all of this, so I wheel over to him and pull him down into a hug and a big kiss.

"Thank you, Jon. You've been my rock through all of this and I don't know what I would do without your support big brother." I say, running my hands through his hair.

"Hm, you're welcome, my sweet sister. And here's hoping that you never have to find out." He says, pulling me back into the kiss. We stay lip locked for a few minutes before he goes back to the dishes and I head off to my workout space.

Unimpeded Progress

The next week goes by smoothly. I keep up with my physio and my wheelchair basketball. I am getting a lot better at both. I scored the final basket in my game last Saturday, and at my last physio appointment, they said I'm doing so much better than they could have hoped. I can feel and even bend all of my toes now, and am starting to slightly feel some touch to the rest of my foot. Mom and Dad are so proud of me. Jonathan on the other hand, seems a little distant lately. I'm hoping it's not because I haven't wanted to go out and do anything. It's just that I need to be working away at my recovery, not socializing.

And something else has been weighing on my mind and taking a lot of my time and energy too, but I'm not ready to tell anyone about that yet. So I'm dealing with everything on my own, the best I can. I have physio today and by now, they will have heard back about whether I am accepted into the special program they were telling me about.

I wait nervously in the waiting area for them to call on me and wonder if I got in to the program. I'm so lost in thought that I barely hear my name being called. When I get in front of the physiotherapist, they sit down with me, to talk first.

"Clarissa, I wanted to give you the great news before we start today. You got in! It's a wonderful program and I think you'll really excel in Minnesota." She says. Hold the phone here… did she just say what I think I heard?

"Wait, excuse me but, did you just Minnesota?" I ask, bewildered. No one said anything to me about moving to Minnesota.

"Why yes, Clarissa. We told you and your parents that the program was run by the Mayo clinic. I assumed you or at least your parents would have known that it was in Minnesota. I'm sorry if that wasn't clear. Are you, in fact, still interested? We pulled a lot of strings to get you in and they are the best equipped facility to help you manage with both of your conditions simultaneously. I had hoped you'd be thrilled."

"I am, I am, it's just… well I don't suppose my family can come with me?" I ask, petrified by the idea of being sent away without my family, not to mention the idea of what it would do to my relationship with Jonathan.

"Well, they can, but I was under the impression that you didn't want them to know about your other condition. It might be hard to keep that from them if they accompany to Minnesota for the next few months, wouldn't you say?"

"Oh. I get it, so either I tell them or I go it alone, right? I can't have both, can I?" I sigh.

"No, you really can't. I'd suggest you go home when we are done here and think about how you want to proceed with this. However, am I correct in thinking that you will be accepting the invitation into the program then?" She asks me.

"Um, yeah, I think it will be good for me. So yes, I accept." I say, not sure how this decision will be met at home. And not looking forward to finding out.

Unpleasant News

So, Mom drives me home after my appointment and as I wheel myself through the front doors, I throw my purse unceremoniously across the room. "Hey Clary, that purse never did anything to you." Mom chuckles, as she tries to improve the mood with humor.

"Yeah well, what the heck am I going to tell Jon, Mom? Hey, so I'm moving to Minnesota, want to come with?" I sigh, not realizing that Jon is standing at the top of the stairs behind me now.

"Wait a second, you're moving? What the hell? Were you even going to tell me?" He asks, descending the stairs to meet me.

"Wow, sorry. I had planned to sit down with you tonight about it, not to just spring it on you like that. I only found out about it today, Jon. Minnesota is apparently where the program is that they were able to get me into. It's the best of the best so if I want to recover fully and quickly, I should probably take it." I say, unable to meet his eyes.

"Wow, okay, that's pretty big. Um, were you serious about asking me to come with you?" He asks, his eyes filled with hope.

"I'd like to, but they said I'd be better off going on my own, so that I can invest everything I have into getting better." I lie, not ready to tell Jonathan the truth.

"Wow, well how long do we have until you have to leave?" He asks.

"They said I can take two weeks to get ready and they'll have everything set up for me by the time I get there." I say, pretending not to notice the moisture in his eyes.

"Okay, well if it's important to your recovery then you'd better do what they say." He sighs, resigned to our fate. "And we'd better make the most out of the next two weeks." He says, brightening up a little bit. "That means, you're going to indulge me with that movie date that you wouldn't agree to before. And I'm also throwing you that party. It can be a combined 'glad you're alive' and 'sorry you're going away' party, okay?" He laughs.

"Okay, but no booze, okay?" I say.

"What? Since when do you turn down booze?" He shakes his head, confused.

"It, ah, it… counteracts some of my medications, so… I shouldn't drink." I say, settling for the best excuse I can think of.

"Okay, fine, no booze." He relents.

"Thanks Jon, you're the best!" I say, pulling him into a hug.

"Yeah, yeah, and don't I know it." He smirks, ruffling my hair.