Auggie and the way into the dark part 2
Auggie had finished breakfast and walked to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Shortly after, he heard someone come in. A few seconds later Emily entered the room and peeked through the bathroom door. "When you´re done I would like you to follow me." She said. Auggie rinsed his mouth, and washed the toothpaste off his lips before he dried them with a towel and walked out of the bathroom. He took the cane, Emily had given him the day before from the bed and made his way to the door where Emily was waiting for him. He hated the idea to walk around with a white cane but he had no choice if he did not want to depend on others for the rest of his life.
Emily took him to a therapy room a few doors down the hall. "Unfold the cane" she said when they arrived. A bit clumsy Auggie untied the string that kept the units of the cane together and the cane pieces unfolded with a snap. "You have never been to this room before, try to explore it with your cane and tell me what you find." Emily instructed him. Auggie hesitated, he was scared, he did not dare to walk just into the blue or more precisely into the dark without knowing what was expecting him. Emily looked at him guessing what was going on and tried to encourage him "Don´t be afraid. Nothing can happen to you, give it a try." Auggie swallowed and the he started sweeping the cane in front of him and took his first steps. After a few metres his cane hit a chair. He extended the other hand and felt for the chair. Next to the chair he found a table. "I have found a chair and a table" he said. "Good, continue walking" Emily said. Again, Auggie swept his cane back and forth and finally hit the wall of the room. He extended his hand, trailed it along the wall and discovered a wash basin.
"Now that you have found the wash basin you will surely find the soap dispenser and the paper towel dispenser, too" Emily said. And then Auggie felt for the two objects and found them to the left and to the right of the wash basin. He turned his head a bit and felt the warm rays of the sun on his skin. "There must be the window" Auggie said and pointed into the direction with his cane" "Well done" Emily said. "You see, how much information you can get from the other senses. A faint smile played around Auggie´s mouth" I don´t know whether I deserve so much praise" he said and made his way back to Emily. "And what´s next?" he added when he stood beside her. "I would like to show you a variety of cane techniques" Emily explained. Let´s go out and I will show you what I am talking about.
Out on the corridor Emily said. "When you walk, your cane sweeps to the right when the left foot steps forward and when the right foot steps forward you sweep the cane to the left. I want you to try that right now." Auggie had listened carefully and took a few steps forward. "Good, you are a quick study and now I will show you how to count stairs with your cane." Emily brushed the back of Auggie´s hand with her hand and he grabbed her arm. Then she took him to the staircase and said "Hold your cane in a vertical position to find the first step. Keep holding the cane in the same position while we are climbing the stairs and you will notice when the next step comes." Auggied did what he was told and he realized how helpful this technique was. After an hour Emily said "This should be enough for today, but if you like, you can practice with the cane a bit in your room to get the hang of it."
When Auggie returned to his room he pressed the talk button of his watch and heard "It is 11:30 a.m." In half an hour, lunch would be served. He was hungry and was looking forward to the meal. The cane exercises had not been easy but for the first time in weeks he felt a bit more self confident. Should it be possible for him to get around with the help of a cane from now on? He was still a bit incredulous and scared but maybe these feelings would subside in a while. He was still musing when he heard Emily come into the room. "Lunchtime" she called "Take your cane and follow me" For the first time Auggie made his way to the dining room. The days before he had been served in his room. But now he was supposed to find the way with the cane. Auggie closed the door of his room behind him and Emily said " 50 steps, the 5th door on your right and you will reach the dining room.
Auggie started counting his steps and then he stopped. He turned slightly to the right and found the door with his white cane. The scent of chicken and French fries greeted him. "Perfect" Emily said "Like I said before , you´re a quick study" and then she led him to a free table and placed his palm onto the back of a chair. Auggie took a seat and half a minute later Emily returned with a tray. "Chicken at 12, French fries at 5 and peas at 3 she informed him, before she left the room.