Page 143 of The Widower
The therapist was honest with me again, and from his tone, I could tell he was worried. Colin needed to move, to work his muscles—to try.
“I’ve explained everything to him, even what’ll happen if he doesn’t follow through.His muscles will atrophy, and soon it might be too late to reverse it.”
“I’ll handle it. Colin needs a reality check.You can go for today—tomorrow’s a new day.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, clearly skeptical.
“Yes.”
I had to try something.I had to push past my own limits somehow…
About ten minutes after the physical therapist left, I went to where Colin was.
I wasn’t about to let him destroy his own life like this—especially when part of me still felt responsible. If he’d never met me, none of this would’ve happened.
“Tomorrow you’re going to start doing that physical therapy properly,” I said, no sugarcoating.
“I’m not doing it.”
“Colin, your life depends on this. So does walking again—without that wheelchair. When are you going to stop being so damn stubborn?”
“Leave me alone. I’m not asking twice.”
“Not happening. How long are you planning to keep acting like a child, huh?” I crossed my arms, practically shouting the words.
“Get out!” He shifted angrily in his wheelchair, his face twisted with rage.
“Guess you want the hard way then. Starting tomorrow, you’ll have company during every single therapy session.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“This is my house, and—”
“Not my problem. From now on, we’re doing things my way.”
“What do you mean, you’re going to do that?!”
“Exactly what you heard.”
Henry was at the mansion, but Colin had been treating him the same way he treated everyone else—cold and distant.
I’d just told Henry what I planned to do—or rather, what I was going to do.
“Having Hanna and Joshua spend full-time with Colin might actually be a good idea…” He looked up, mulling over my words.
“He’s running out of time, Henry.And that’s not me being dramatic. If he doesn’t start taking physical therapy seriously, some of his movements might become permanently compromised.”
“I know. Something’s going on with him—it’s not right. I just don’t understand why he refuses to do the exercises. It’s strange, to say the least.”
“I don’t understand it either. But this is the only thing I could think of, and I really hope it works.”
He’s been on my mind twenty-four hours a day, and it’s wearing me down.
I shouldn’t think like this, but I feel obligated to help him. I don’t know—maybe it doesn’t make sense—but after everything he’s done for me, it wouldn’t be fair to let him give up on life.
“As stubborn as he is, Colin’s strong. I’m sure he’ll come to his senses and think about the people who’ve been there for him all this time. If he doesn’t start that therapy, I’ll talk to him myself—straightforward, no sugarcoating.And another thing: Idon’t just want him to start. He needs to take it seriously. I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I didn’t help him push through this.”
