Swimming With Sharks Volume 5

When Mom finally made it to the hospital the next morning she told me all about her morning with Sasha. The apartment got Mom’s seal of approval. My room was small but clean and the apartment itself was very nice. She didn’t get to meet Sasha’s roommate Alayna but from the look of how clean the apartment was, Mom could tell she would have liked her. After shopping for my necessities, they went out for breakfast before Sasha dropped Mom off at a rental car agency so she could rent a car for the drive home, while Sasha went home to get some sleep before her night shift started.

Dr. Stevens made his way to see me around noon and gave me my release from the hospital, instructing me to wear the sling on my arm and use my walker as much as possible as I didn’t want to risk a fall and a trip back to the hospital. Mom drove me to Sasha’s and we quietly let ourselves in with a key Sasha had given Mom in the morning. Mom was right, the apartment was beautiful, way nicer than my dorm room. Sasha had stocked the fridge and pantry with the groceries Mom bought and my room was filled with all the basics I’d need for the next few days. Mom made my bed with my new sheets and then pulled out from the closet a red and white candy-striped cane with a wolf’s head handle, matching my school’s team colors and mascot. It was perfect, and unexpected.

“The pimped out cane was Sasha’s idea,” Mom claimed, trying to sound relevant.

“It’s really great, Mom. Just promise me you’ll never call it that again.”

“Fine. Pimped out walking stick,” Mom cracked, making air quotes with her fingers.

“So funny, Mom.” I paused. Our banter had been light and humorous but I knew what today meant. Mom was going to leave me here at Sasha’s, and while I knew it was for the best I couldn’t help but think of everything that had happened over the last few weeks. The accident, the hospital, the surgery, Mom had put her whole life on hold to take care of me. A lump about the size of a softball formed in my throat and more than a couple tears flowed down my cheeks.

“Aw shit, kiddo. If you cry I’m gonna cry.” Mom instinctively wrapped her arms around me and held me against her. “You know you’re going to be fine, right? Sasha seems like a great girl, and she’s a good nurse. And for what it’s worth, from the little time I’ve spent with her I’m 99 percent sure she’s not a demon or anything. Plus, you’re well on your way already. Just a couple more weeks and you’ll be good as new I bet.”

“It’s not that, Mom. I just don’t know how to thank you. You’ve been here with me every step of the way, put everything on hold in your life just to take care of me. It’s just overwhelming.”

“Hey, always remember that raising you and Bethany and taking care of you is the job I signed up for. And I think I did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. I somehow managed to raise a smart, responsible and sweet kid. And independent. You’re gonna text and call me every day, right?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Mom’s attempt to lighten the mood. She was right. “I better get out of here before lovergirl sees her fella crying in his mommy’s arms.” I wasn’t thrilled with her delivery but I couldn’t help but get behind her sentiment.

Mom and I said our goodbyes and after a long hug Mom slipped out of the apartment leaving me alone to quietly explore what was going to be my home for the next few weeks. Being that it had been literally hours since I’d last eaten I was beyond starving. Using my new cane I made my way to the kitchen and started stumbling around trying to make myself something to eat. Being a guy of simple tastes and limited mobility, I settled on a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly and a tall glass of milk. Halfway through my third or forth sandwich I heard keys jiggling at the front door and in walked a tall, gorgeous, woman in light blue scrubs that I could only assume was Alayna.