Derek wasn't kidding about the pushing. Bernie made me push weights, walk around the hospital, walk on a treadmill, and walk in a pool. That’s a lot of stuff but I can only do a little at a time. I’m too weak to do anything else. I’m so exhausted, at the end of the work out, so I just sit in the shower.
What I don't expect, is that I would be unable to stand back up. I don't want to have to call a nurse to pick me up, so I holler for Derek. He
Being at Derek's house feels a lot like being at home. He has a ‘Welcome Home’ banner on the living room wall. I teasingly roll my eyes and stroll towards the guest room. When I round the corner, I accidentally run into someone and fall. Derek, who had been carrying my bags, turns around the corner at the same time that she says, "Whoa, I'm sorry." "Liz?" “Surprised to see me?”
Liz doesn’t have a car so we take Derek's truck. I sit in between Liz and Derek, while Liz drives. I lean my head against his shoulder while he holds my hand. I stare out at the window and remind myself that I can, and should, have some fun. The museum is about twenty minutes from the house. I take this time to get to know more about them. Liz and Derek like the same music that I listen to, except now it is considered oldies. When I start singing along, it shocks everyone, even me because I actually remember the words. I don’t remember a lot of things but I remember these lyrics as easily as I
Derek reluctantly agrees to stay at the restaurant and eat. We agreed that, because of what happened, Liz should also be told. It will be nice for me to have a friend other than Derek. I know that my reaction was huge, but my mind had a problem processing reality. I know that I didn’t give Derek a good explanation but I’m just glad that he didn’t push me harder.Before he can leave, I grab his hand and give him a soft apologetic kiss. I can tell that he is nervous about what he’s going to hear. I don’t really blame him for not smiling back. He has been completely supportive of me and he barely knows me. I still wonder how he knows for sure how he feels about me. I’m in my head a few minutes before I feel him turn back to me and asks,"How do you kn
I finally feel like some of the tensions are lifted as I finish the story. We all sit quietly for a minute before Derek decides to tell his side of the story. He tells Liz about how he found me walking zombified and felt a need to pick me up. He felt drawn to me, is what he says. I didn’t know that part and I glance at him. He smiles at me sheepishly and I can’t help but smile back. He explains that he watched me sleep for about an hour before he fell asleep himself. The laughing that I heard was because he was talking to Liz about a blind date that she had the night before.Liz
The prison on the outside is massive. You can see that they had to add extra towers. The parking lot is full. We have to park so far away that a shuttle bus picks us up. I watch as a little girl runs up and down the aisle, while her mother is wrestling to keep her two year old from copying his big sister. Security officers are lined up in the front. It reminds me of being at a concert. For the women, they have a separate line. There are a lot more women than there are men and it looks like Derek and I are going to be separated. "I'll wait for you at the bathrooms, okay?" He tells me.
While Meril gives directions to his house, I sit watching the girl from the bus. Her brother is watching her as she plays with puppets. I watch the little boy giggle and point. I don’t realize that I’m smiling with tears, until I feel Derek's hand gently squeeze mine."Mary Anne?" I hear Meril say.I shake my head and look back towards him. "I'm sorry. What were you saying?"Derek looks
"Where would you like me to start?" Meril asks. "Wherever you want. It looks like we are going to be here for a while." I answer. He shifts to make himself more comfortable and suggests that we do the same. Derek moves a few of the chairs to create a small couch out of them. I curl up in his lap and wait for Meril to start talking. "I don't know how much you remember about your past. Do you remember my father, Allen?" "I'm sorry, I don't remember anything." I said regretfully. "That's okay." He pauses, trying to decide where to start. "My father and Bernie's father were do
I gasp as I realize that he had just said my name and sadness creeps into my soul, with the news of my mother's death."I'm sorry, Alayna. I wasn't sure that I should say anything but your boyfriend insisted. He said that you would want to know everything."I glance at Derek gratefully. "He's right, Meril. I guess, now I know why my fake name Mary Anne seemed to be perfect for Bernie." I try to joke, attempting to help ease my uncomfortableness.Derek caught the tension in my voice and whispers in my ear, "Alayna is a beautiful name. Much better than Mary Anne." Derek smiles his dazzling smile that makes my heart stop. I can’t help but to smile back. My heart does stop when he gives me a quick wink before tur