Page 67 of Defect
“Yes. When you left the hospital, I sent you home with a sheet that had eight follow up appointments listed. I needed to take more pictures of your brain to see how the healing process was going and to help you further recover.”
“Dr. Chin, I didn’t know anything about that. My mother handled all my paperwork. She never mentioned it to me.” Dr. Chin’s dark eyes narrowed a little then he typed in a few things on his computer. Solana reached over and held my hand for support and I gave hers a squeeze.
“My office has called several times to reschedule but never got an answer. I explained to your mother that you’d need recovery therapy to speed along the healing process.”
“Healing?” I said rubbing my forehead. “I’m able to recover from the brain trauma?” I was starting to get a headache but not because there was an overload of information. I was getting a headache because I was livid with my mother.
“Of course,” Dr. Chin chuckled. “You had some pretty serious trauma to the frontal lobe but because of your age, we expect for you to make a full recovery. The brain doesn’t stop growing until you’re twenty-five. Once the swelling went down and I was able to assess the damage, I didn’t see anything so serious that you would be severely damaged for life. I told your mother that the outburst you had when you first woke up was normal.
I know it was very scary for her and she didn’t think it would be smart for us to speak directly to you until you settled in with the tragic news about your brother.” He paused and looked from me to Solana. “She had to make a very hard decision to take Everett off life support.”
Everything came to a screeching halt.
My muscles tensed and my brows crashed together on my forehead.
“She did what?” I growled. I stood to my feet, eating up the office space around me.
“She…took your brother off life support after he showed no brain activity for forty-eight hours.”
“Everett was alive for two days before he died?” My words got stuck in my throat fighting for space with emotions. Solana looked up at me and I knew I needed to sit back down. I was on the verge of another outburst like the one I had when I first woke up.
“She didn’t tell you any of this? Ezra, I’m so sorry, son.”
“Did he have a chance? Did he ever have a chance to live?” I asked, my words wobbling from the immense gravity of my question.
“His brain damage was too extensive. There was no response. We could have waited a while longer but ultimately I think she made the right choice I’m just sorry she didn’t tell you about it.”
“Me too,” I said pulling back the urge to cry. I gripped the amethyst crystal Solana gave me and held her hand even tighter.
“You, on the other hand we knew would pull through. You had brain activity but there was a lot of swelling as I said before.”
“Doctor Chin, what are my limitations in everyday life? My mother led me to believe I would never be able to live on my own or make decisions for myself. She told me I’d always have violent outbursts and I wouldn’t be able to drive or have a relationship. Some of that has to be true, right?”
Dr. Chin looked at me totally stunned and shook his head. “Absolutely not, Ezra. You’re a normal young man. When you first went home, I explained there’d be some difficulty. Maybe some fuzzy logic and difficulty with decision-making but that it would clear up a little every day. Even quicker if you came for recovery therapy.” He pressed his lips into a tight line and grunted. “It’s clear to me that you’ve been done a great disservice. I’m not sure what your mother’s aim is but what she’s neglected to tell you about the accident is counterproductive. I have another appointment in a few minutes but please take my card. We can set up sessions to help you even further and I can check your head to see how well you’re healing. Does that sound good?”
“Yeah, that sounds great. Thanks, Dr. Chin.” I shook his hand and he smiled at me.
“And thank your lucky stars that you have a girlfriend who loves you as much as Miss Monroe does. If she hadn’t brought you in here to speak to me, you would have lived your entire life stunted for no reason.” He shook Solana’s hand too and she thanked him profusely for meeting with us on such short notice.
Dr. Chin left the office and left us alone.
I was alone with a lot of heavy emotions and I didn’t know what to do with them.
“Ezra, are you okay?” Solana asked. Her voice was quiet and still. It was what I needed. I hung my head low and shrugged my shoulders.
“How can I be okay knowing my mother didn’t tell me that Everett lived for two days before she decided to kill him?”
“Dr. Chin said…”
“I don’t give a fuck what the Dr. said. Two days isn’t enough time. What if all he needed was me? We’ll never fucking know and I can’t forgive her for that.” I stood up and walked to the door. “Let’s go,” I said to Solana.
We headed back to her car and I opened the door for her then I walked around and got in. “Let’s go somewhere and get breakfast, Ezra.” She touched my leg gently and looked at me. Even though I was consumed with anger, Solana made me feel at peace.
Since we were in Inglewood, I knew exactly where to take her for breakfast. Every time we stopped, I looked at Solana to remind myself of how lucky I was even though life dealt me a momentary shitty hand. I made my mind up right then that I would never let go of her no matter what came our way.
I didn’t know anything about kids but I knew the kind of person I wished my mother was. I knew the kind of person I wanted to be and if Malachi were lucky enough to live with Solana I’d be that kind of person.
I pulled into a diner not too far from my old house. I saw a few guys I went to school with hanging outside and my back tensed when I walked past them with Solana. I saw every single one of them turn their heads when we approached.
