Maybe the pains in her legs were so called Phantom pains; maybe her legs were not there at all. Abby began tearing the covers from her legs; she just had to see if they were there. Abby soon found she was too weak to even lift the sheet. Her energy gone, Abby lay back on the hospital bed. Her eyes were beginning to fill with tears when she heard the door open. Thinking it was only a nurse, come to check on her, Abby turned her head and quickly batted away the tears. When she turned back toward the door Abby saw Jay entering, carrying a cup of coffee.
Jay set his coffee on the table and rushed to soothe Abby. “Honey’s what wrong? Are you hurting somewhere, do I need to call the nurse.” No! My legs, I have to see my legs, I want to see for myself they are there.” “Come on, lay down, you need your rest.” Abby became more distressed and struggle against the blinding pain, she just had to see her legs. “I want to see my legs, I’m not going to rest until I do.” “Your legs are fine, you don’t need to see them right now, you need to rest.” Defeat filled Gary’s eyes, and he released his grip on Abby’s shoulders. “Ok, relax, I give up. If it’s so important, I’ll show you your legs, but I’m telling you, they are fine.” As Gary peeled the covers away, Abby held her breath, praying what he said was true .
What she saw took her breath away, Both of her legs were in metal McIntire’s splint, with screws running all the way down her legs. “You have multiple fractures in both your legs, they were barely able to save your right leg.” Gary whispered, as he gently placed a hand on top of her’s. “I want to talk to the doctor, when is he coming in?” Abby just had to talk to him, had to find out if she would ever walk again, her life depended on it. “He’ll be in later, I’m not sure when. You really need to rest now, I will wake you up when he comes, ok?”
“You promise?” Abby asked, feeling the darkness already swallowing her.
Abby awoke later that night, to the sounds of hospital hustle and bustle, something she was used to, but not from the stand point of a patient. She glanced around, to find Gary sleeping in the nearby chair. He looked so uncomfortable, but was sleeping peacefully.
“Gary, you can’t take time off from work, just to take care of me, even I know you can’t afford it.” Abby knew she was fighting a losing battle, Gary was determined to do this, and nothing would change his mind. A knock on the door halted the conversation. “Am I interrupting?” A woman with long black hair stuck her head in the door cautiously. “No, come in please.” Abby invited, but shot a look at Gary, telling him the previous discussion was not over, by far. “I’m doctor Sullivan, your orthopedic doctor, I just wanted to check in on you. How are you feeling? Abby wanted to say she felt like a truck had run over her, then backed up, and did it again, but she bit her tongue, and smiled. “Fine, a lot better than I did yesterday at least.” Well, I don’t want to push you, but as soon as you think you might feel like it, we are going to try to get you back up on your feet. The sooner we can do that, the better.”
