Page 53 of Sparking Sara

She takes five steps, sits for a break, and then takes five more. Cheers can be heard throughout the hallway.

Progress.

When we get back to her room, she’s exhausted. She gets put back on the vent.

“You wait here,” I tease. “I’ve got a surprise for you. I’ll be back soon.”

She nods before falling off to sleep.

Before I leave, I stare at her awhile, amazed at the advances she’s made today. Less than a week ago, the doctors were still saying she might not recover, or if she did, she’d have major deficiencies. Yet here she is. Walking. Talking.

She doesn’t talk much. I think it tires her out. Last night, when we first arrived at the rehab center, after she got situated in her room, all she wanted to do was play cards. So we played Go Fish and listened to the Beach Boys until she could no longer keep her eyes open.

I look around her room that looks far less like a hospital room with the exception of the ventilator. And this room has flowers. I was happy to see that Oliver had sent some over last night to welcome her to her new temporary home. And it has balloons. I’d contemplated going with flowers as well, but then I remembered my promise not to step on his toes. Flowers might have been too much stepping.

I slip out of her room to run my errand and am back in less than an hour. When I get to her room, Oliver is there and the nurse is bringing in Sara’s dinner tray.

“No way,” I tell the nurse. “She’s not eating that. She was a rock star today and deserves a reward for her first real meal.”

I place the bag on the table in front of Sara, noticing she’s been taken off the vent again.

“What?” she asks softly.

I dig into the bag and pull out a gourmet cheeseburger and fries. Her eyes go wide.

“A burger?” Oliver says in displeasure. “You got her a burger?”

“Hell yes, I did. This is a celebration dinner.”

“Why in bloody hell would you do that?” he asks. “She’s vegan.”

“She’swhat?”

“Vegan,” he says. “As in, she doesn’t eat meat. Or French fries made with beef fat.”

I look down at the burger, feeling guilty. I start to wrap it back up. “I’m sorry. Lydia told me … Well, it’s not important.”

“Stop,” Sara says, looking at the burger as if she wants to devour it immediately.

“You want it?” I ask.

She nods, her wide eyes not straying from her dinner.

“She wants it,” I say to Oliver.

Oliver looks perturbed. I guess he’s upset that she doesn’t remember her life. Doesn’t rememberhim. But then he forces a smile and pushes the burger closer to her. “What my fiancée wants, she gets.”

Sara smiles with relief. I’m not sure if she thinks Oliver controls what she can and can’t do. But maybe now is not the time to tell her he doesn’t. I try a different tactic instead. “Oliver, I think Sara will need help eating. And remember, this will be her first solid food in thirteen days, so don’t let her overdo it. She should take small bites.”

“Right,” he says, pulling a chair close to her bed. “I’ve got this, mate. You’ve probably been here all day, why don’t you head home. I’m sure you have better things to do.”

While he pours Sara a cup of water from the pitcher on her side table, Sara’s eyes find mine and she stares at me. She stares at me the way she should be staring at him.

“I … Actually, I have a baseball game to go to.”

I don’t. I mean, there is a game tonight, but I don’t need to go. I told Aspen I wouldn’t. But I think I should. Sara and Oliver need to spend time together. Time without me.

“Sara, I hope you enjoy your meal. You did great today.”

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