Page 35 of Crash
Tessa’s eyes flutter open when the waft of crisp bacon and coffee assault her nose. I pull the breakfast items to me and smile big when her focus is clear.
“Good morning, babe,” I announce cheerfully.
She takes a deep breath and smiles. “Morning, Austin. Did you make me breakfast?”
“Mm hmm. Here it is on the tray. I just took your two favorite things to help get you out of your dreamtime.”
“You put me insaidsleep coma last night,” she smirks. She raises onto her elbows and the sheet that was covering her, slips revealing her sweet succulent breasts that I had the pleasure of squeezing and tasting last night.
After we left her new, larger studio, we went to grab food at a local restaurant. We practically had to reserve the private dining area since most of her classes and their families joined us. When it was all over, we returned to my place where she slept for most of the afternoon. Since she seems to be calm here, we agreed to try recuperating here. Especially, since I’ll be the one to take her to her appointments, which start today.
“So, I’ll take you to therapy today and assist with any exercises you need at home,” I shout from the kitchen while I clean up.
She doesn’t answer.
I walk into the room where she is sitting quietly crying on the edge of the bed. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
She sniffles. “This is all too much right now. The reality is setting in and it’s making me think about the road ahead of me.”
“You’ve been on the internet again, haven’t you?” I reply.
She nods her head in agreement.
I take a seat beside her and pull her into my arms. “Babe, I told you I will be there with you from beginning to end. You can yell, scream, cry, even throw shit at me, but I want to be your rock.”
“Yes, I know. And my first dance will be yours, I promise. I just need to process this, mentally.”
“Go talk to someone. We have one on staff for when we need to decompress after a fatality. I’ve even been talking to him following your accident.”
“Really?”
“Tessa, when I saw your car and face, I froze. I couldn’t do my job; most importantly, the main code of ethics: To conserve life, alleviate suffering, promote health, do no harm, and encourage the quality and equal availability of emergency medical care. I knew once I got my mind back to reality, I would need to talk to someone. While you were in surgery, that was the first call I made. I cried my eyes out that night. Alongside your bed, in my truck, in the shower at the hospital. Even after you were discharged, in the parking lot with Court, I let loose. You need an outlet for your emotions, so they don’t consume you.”
“Austin, you are so amazing. Thank you for taking care of me and making sure I have all I need.”
“I’m gonna always be here for you.” I lean my head against her forehead and trace her cheek with the pad of my thumb before placing a gentle peck on the bulb of her nose. “Now, you finish your breakfast, I’ll get the kitchen clean, and then be back to help you get showered and dressed for therapy.”
She nods in agreement, but her emotions seep from her eyes.
I pass her a smile and leave her to grieve. I know it’s a process, and she has a long road ahead of her, but I can only help her so far. The rest is her journey, and I will do anything to help her navigate these roads.
“HEY,Tessa. You ready to get started?” James, her therapist from the hospital, says when he sees we have arrived.
“Ready to be done with all of this shit,” she announces, her tone laced with a bit of vinegar.
He passes me a look with a raised eyebrow and all I could do was shrug my shoulders.
“Can Austin come back here with me? Maybe you can instruct us on the things I can do while at home.”
“Sure, Austin is welcome. You joining us?”
I nod my head and follow them to the back. Over the next hour, James worked with Tessa on straight leg raises and knee bending and straightening to keep her hip and knee joints loose and maintain some leg strength as her bones heal. I’d like to think I can help with the hip part. James also performed passive stretching exercises and even allowed me to assist so I could get hands on training. He instructed us on using her toes to pick up marbles and place them in a cup. This will help improve her walking once she’s able to get back to bearing weight on her leg.
“Okay, that’s all for the day. Be sure to get your appointment set up front and if you don’t want to come in, give me at least two-days’ notice and I will come to you. But to get you back to how you were before the accident, you must remain consistent with treatment.”
Tessa nods her head and uses her motorized scooter to go up front to the receptionist area.
“Austin, man, look. This will be a long and rough road. She will have good and bad days.”
