Page 6 of If Everything Was Easy

“How’s that going to work?” I grumbled. I lived in a second-floor apartment. No way was I getting around easily on my own.

“You’re coming home for a while. You can stay in your old room, and Madi will be home to help during the day.” He smiled as he left the room.

Great. Just what I wanted to do. Move home and be helpless. I crossed my arms over my chest and stewed in my anger. Deep down I knew my dad didn’t have anything to do with this, and I was being unfair to him but I just didn’t care. I was angry at the entire situation and he was the only one there at the moment.

“Welcome home.” Dad smiled as he opened the car door. I stared up at the beach house I grew up in. It’s only been two years since I moved out completely but it feels longer. I lived in the dorms my freshman year, so I came home on breaks, but when Ashley and I got our apartment, I stopped coming home. My dad or Madi would stop by and see me when they were in the area.

“It looks different,” I muttered as he came around to my side, pushing a wheelchair. “How is this going to work?” I pointed at the stairs that led to the front door.

“Unfortunately, I’ve done this before.” Dad’s face went solemn for a moment before he pushed away the feeling and plastered a smile back on his face. I felt like an ass. I’m sure this was hard for him. Memories of my mom and how sick she got were probably coming back now that he was taking care of me, only I was too selfish to notice.

“I’m going to take all of this up, then I’ll come back for you.” He piled our things in the seat of the wheelchair and then carefully dragged it up the stairs. Once at the top, he emptied the contents into the living room, and turned the chair to face the top of the stairs. “Your turn.” He jogged back down and stopped in front of me. As I stood, he hooked one arm behind my back, and the other under my legs and lifted me into his arms.

“Shiiiittt! That hurts.” I let out a screech.

“I’m sorry, sweetie.” He maneuvered up the steps and lowered me into the wheelchair. Just the jostling from the lifting and carrying made my leg throb in pain. “I’ll get you some of the pain meds as soon as we get inside.” He turned the chair and wheeled me into the living room.

“Can you put me in the bedroom? I wanna lie down.” I balled my hands into fists. My nails dug into my palms and that little distraction helped me stop thinking about how bad my life sucked at the moment.

“Sure.” He turned down the hall, and pushed me through the doorway of my childhood bedroom. The shelves were covered in soccer trophies. Several ribbons and medals hung from pegs onthe walls. There was a framed picture of Danny and me on the desk in the corner.

“Thanks. I’m going to take a nap.” I lifted myself up and scooted onto the bed. As I lay down, Dad tucked a pillow under my foot to help cushion my leg. It pulsed in pain, reminding me of where I was. I punched my pillow before leaning against it, and then closed my eyes. I wasn’t really tired, but I wanted to be alone, and I didn’t want to see this shrine to a life I might not ever have again.

I must have fallen asleep because it was dark out. “Ava? Are you awake?” Madi’s soft voice was muffled through the door. “You have a visitor.”

“I’m up.” I sounded terrible, even to myself. I pushed myself to a sitting position just as the door opened. Ashley was standing there with flowers in her hand, biting her lip.

“How are you doing? That was stupid; I can see life sucks. How are you feeling? God, I’m terrible at this. I brought these.” She thrust the flowers at me.

“Were you planning my funeral or something?” I teased. “You can come in.”

She moved a little closer, but still kept her distance. “I don’t want to hurt you.” She stared at the giant cast.

“You won’t. Sit.” I patted the bed beside me.

She slowly lowered herself right on the edge. “What’d the doctor say?”

“It’s gonna be at least six months.” I picked at a thread on the bedspread. “You better not let them replace me.”

“Are you insane? You could never be replaced.” She scoffed as she slapped at the bed. When she realized that she almost hit my knee, she recoiled. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s cool. You didn’t hurt me.” I brushed her off. “Please tell me we won,” I begged.

She nodded. “In double overtime. Guess your mom’s record’s going to stand, huh?”

I had completely forgotten about that. “Yep. I won’t be a student next year. This was my last chance, and now I won’t be able to play until after the season is over.” That was one more piece of defeat that I didn’t need to be reminded of. “I hate my life right now,” I grumbled.

“It’s not all bad.” Ashley tried to cheer me up. “You get to have someone take care of you.” She smiled as she waved her arm around.

“Yeah, but I’m living in this shrine to soccer right now, and it’s the reason I’m in this predicament. I’m kinda angry and I need a place to sulk.” I pouted.

“I think you’ll feel different in a few days.” She leaned over and hugged me. “What did Danny say about all of this?”

“Nothing. He won’t call me back.” I rolled my eyes. “I thought when I told him I’d had surgery that he’d at least call, but nope.”

“Screw him.” She stood, hands on her hips. “You need to dump his ass. He doesn’t deserve you.”

“We both know how you feel about him. Can we please not talk about him right now?”

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