Page 20 of Memphis

“He’s holding his own.”

If I’d heard my father say that once, I’d heard him say it a million times since the accident.

I’d also heard,“He just needs some time.”

The response was always the same. “He’s young and strong. He’ll bounce back in no time.”

It was all bullshit.

The doctors said I had a spinal cord contusion, and the bruising and swelling had caused temporary paralysis. They kept saying that I just needed some time to heal, and things would get better. I’d spent over a week in the hospital before they moved me to Cain Creek to start my rehab. I’d been busting my ass for weeks, and I was basically dead weight from the waist down.

I was over it.

I’d done their fucking therapy.

I wore the brace and took the pills.

Even when it hurt like hell, I did what they told me, but so far, I hadn’t gotten much in return.

Dad tried playing it off by saying the lack of feeling was a blessing; otherwise, I would have been in a world of pain with all the road rash, but as far as I was concerned, there was nothinggood about it. And if he was being completely honest, he would say the same. It’d only been a few months since we’d lost my brother Beckett, and now, I was laid up, and it wasn’t looking good.

He was trying to put on a brave front, but I knew it was killing him to see me laid up. It was written all over his face, and you could hear it in his voice. He was standing in the doorway, talking with the doctor and Blade, and while they were trying to whisper, I could hear everything they were saying. It was tough to hear the concern in his voice as Dad said, “You told us to be patient and we’re trying, but damn, Doc. It’s been weeks.”

“I understand your concern, but he’s making good progress. The steroids are doing their job and reducing the swelling, and the brace is keeping his spine immobilized. The therapy is helping with his muscle strength and...”

“He still has no feeling in his legs.”

That wasn’t exactly true.

I’d started to feel some tingling and numbness that I hadn’t been feeling days prior, and it was more than likely a good sign. I should’ve mentioned it to the doctors or one of the nurses, but out of pure frustration, I’d kept it to myself.

In my mind, a little tingling wasn’t enough.

I wanted more.

I wanted my fucking legs back.

“We’re aware, but muscle response is beginning to return. That gives a lot of hope that the rest will follow.”

“Yeah, that’s what Blade keeps telling us.”

Blade was club’s doc, and while he was great at gunshots and broken limbs, paralysis was out of his paygrade. He tried to reassure Dad by saying, “We’ve just got to be patient and give Wes the time he needs to recover.”

“He’s right.” The doctor raised his voice, ensuring that I could hear him as he added, “It’s going to take some time. Yourson is going to need to continue the rehabilitation and give it all he’s got to regain the ability to walk again, and physically, I believe that he can do that. Mentally, I’m not so sure.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m concerned about his state of mind. He hasn’t been going to any of the counseling or group therapy sessions I suggested. These are vital to his recovery.”

“Yeah, he’s not really into the whole counseling thing.”

“It’s important, especially now. Your son is battling depression, and he’s losing. It’s common in situations like these, and I think it’s time to discuss the possibility of adding an antidepressant to his daily medications, along with attending the counseling sessions.”

“You really think that’s necessary?”

“We’re at a critical time here. Your son needs to be at his very best right now, and he’s not. If anything, he’s regressing. We need to find something that will get him back in the game, or we’ll lose the progress he’s made.” The doctor glanced over at me, then back to Dad as he said, “Talk it over and let me know.”

There were some mumbled words, and then the doctor and Blade walked out of the room, leaving me alone with Dad. I kept my eyes trained on the TV as he walked over to me, and I did my best to tune him out as he said, “We need to talk.”

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