Page 15 of Enzo
Dr. Watts sets a hand on his shoulder. “If this goes well, itcouldbe the last surgery you’ll need. I’m not saying you definitely won’t need another surgery down the line, it all depends on how you heal, but then again, it could be.”
Enzo sighs. “I don’t have a choice, do I? Not if I want to be able to walk again.”
“There are other methods; however, due to the current shape and scar tissue, I’m sure the orthopedist will agree with me that surgical reshaping is necessary before we can take the steps to get it properly fitted.”
“Great, just what I wanted to hear, more time before I can get back to normal again.”
“I know this is hard, what you’ve been through is terrifying, but I promise I’m here to help. I’ll answer any questions you have and try to make this as painless a transition as possible.”
Enzo nods and looks so dejected, I ache to put my arms around him and reassure him that it’s all going to be okay. “Thank you.”
Dr. Watts gives him a gentle smile. “You’re looking good, all told. Losing a limb in such a traumatic fashion usually isn’t cut and dry, and I’m impressed with the level of care you have. Don’t worry about the need for an additional surgery. It happens. Taking care of it now will mean you have a better chance of taking to your prosthesis later on. It’d be worse if we fitted you for a limb then ended up having to take you in for surgery anyway because you hadn’t had the bone cut down enough, or the residual limb wasn’t shaped correctly, and it ended up causing more problems than you started with.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Enzo says, a defeated look in his eyes.
She hands him a business card. “Call me or send me a message if you have any questions.”
“Thank you again.”
She gives a gentle smile. “I look forward to working with you, Enzo. It’ll be okay. I’m here to help you through this life-changing event.”
He gives her an absent nod, and after quickly speaking with both Doc and Jayden, while taking a few more notes, she leaves.
“Right.” Jayden speaks up. “There’s nothing that says we can’t do your exercises now.”
“Seriously?” Enzo glares at the physical therapist. “I was just told I might need another surgery, where they’re going to take more of my leg, and your first thought isexercise?”
Jayden raises one of his fiery red eyebrows. “That’s exactly why you need to keep to a routine. Not only is it good for your body, but your spirits as well. It’ll take your mind off of the news you’ve just gotten. Forty-five minutes to work your body and mind, so you can digest everything we just went over. It’s not going to kill you.”
“It might,” Enzo mutters.
“Don’t be a baby,” Jayden says cheerfully.
“I see you’re in good hands,” Doc says. “I’ll leave you to it and check back in once you’re done. Are you staying for dinner, Jay?”
“Is my brother cooking?” Jayden asks.
“He is,” Doc replies.
“Then yes, I’ll stick around.” He turns to Soren. “It was nice meeting you, Soren. You ever get tired of Doc’s cranky ass, come see me, yeah?”
“Stop trying to steal my assistants,” Doc tells him.
When Doc and Soren leave, Jayden turns to Enzo, a glint in his eye that says he’s not going to go easy. Good. Enzo needs something else to focus on other than the news he was just given. I can see the hurt in his golden eyes, even though he tries to hide it.
My heart aches and I’ve never felt so helpless before. I can dress his wound, take care of his every medical need. I can feed him, bathe him, help him to the bathroom, but what I can’t do is give him back his leg. I can’t fix the pain of having his life turned upside down.
The caretaker in me is lost to the utter helplessness of the situation. It kills me to know that everything I know about the human body, every little facet of knowledge I have about Enzo, is useless because his pain is internal—in his head and his heart. And those aren’t places I can touch or fix.
I can only hope Doc will get him a therapist who can help him, and that he’ll allow not only me and Doc to be here for him, but his friends and family too. Because Enzo may be the strongest person I know, but that doesn’t mean he’s not also in need of a shoulder to cry on. I want nothing more than to be that for him, if he’ll let me.
I love him more than anything, and I plan on spending the rest of my life with him. One leg or two, or even none. What matters to me is the man who holds my heart, and I’m terrified he’s going to allow this to take him away from me.
As I watch Jayden put him through his paces, I hold onto the hope that he’s here with me now, and know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
“Papa wants to see you,” Kail says gently.
“I’d rather he didn’t.”
