Love and hatred
1343 Words
Nathan
I am woken up at mid night by my very excited wife. I rub my eyes and try to concentrate to what she is saying.
“Your legs are healing! They are healing!” she exclaims while my hearts starts pounding. The doctors did say that I will improve and be able to walk once the swelling on my spine settles. His estimation was a year or so. I did not expect it to be so soon.
“Try to move,” my thrilled wife instructs. I close my eyes and try.
I must have used too much force because my right leg goes right up and hit Amari on the face.
“Auch!”
I flip my eyes open to see her rubbing her forehead.
“I am so sorry, Babe. I…”
“Oh my word, Nathan! Your legs are working!”
I am beating myself up for kicking her face, but Amari is so excited, she is jumping on the bed like a small child.
She suddenly stops, gets off the bed and holds my hand. “Let’s try to walk.”
I look at her, amazed at the energy she seems to possess at midnight.
“Right now?”
“Yes, don’t be a cry-baby. Come,” she insists. She can be a bully this wife of mine. I have no choice but move my legs to the side of the bed. I can’t help but be nervous. I have not walked for over six months now.
She holds my hand tightly and pulls me while I try to stand. I take deep breaths, nerves taking over. My feet are strong, but my whole body is now trembling from the fear of failing.
I try to take a step, but I am so unstable, I almost fall on top of Amari. I hold on the bed and climb back on it, dejected and angry for getting excited about being able to walk again.
“You are scared,” she points out and I completely loose my temper.
“Are you a shrink now?” I yell and she just looks at me. “I would like to sleep in peace if that’s fine with you!”
I lay down and pull the blankets to cover myself. I don’t regard myself as emotional, but I can feel my eyes stinging and tears threatening to fall.
My heart sinks when she and adjusts the blanket to cover my exposed leg.
“It’s okay, Nathan. We will work on it until you are confident,’’ she encourages with a gentle tone while I feel like an ass for snapping at her. I don’t deserve this woman.
I sit up, swing my legs back to the edge, ready to try again. For her, I will overcome any fear.
“I am sorry, can we try again?” I ask
“Are you sure? We can…”
“Yes, Babe, please. I am sorry for snapping at you,” I plead and she takes my arm again. Someone else would still be angry at me for snapping when trying to help, but Amari has this gentle and tender expression on her face.
I try to stand again with more will than before.
“Take your time and just breathe. It is okay if it’s not perfect,” she encourages, making me want to do this not just for myself, but for her as well.
Taking steps feels like the most strenuous exercise I have ever done, but I shuffle and persist. My wife continues to encourage. I now know why she chose nursing. She has passion and patience for this.
It is just after four in the morning by the time we are both exhausted and return to bed. My gorgeous angel of a wife must have been really tired because it is past twelve o’clock when she wakes up.
I push the tray of food her way. I ordered a takeout while she was sleeping.
“Morning, sleepyhead. Have breakfast.”
She sits up and gives me that look that makes my heart dance.
“You got me breakfast? You are just perfect, Mr Lord!” she beams, making me chuckle. I love this woman.
She gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom to freshen up before returning and insisting that we eat together.
“I have eaten,” I tell her, her actions pulling at my every heart string. She believes that I am poor and using my disability pension money to pamper her. She probably thinks I used all the money to get her food and had none myself, hence her insisting that we eat together.
She looks unconvinced, making me laugh. I have to show her the empty takeaway containers to convince her.
“I am so sorry for snapping at you earlier and thank you for being the best wife in the world,” I say, meaning every word. I pray and hope that I never get so used to her kindness and end up taking her for granted.
She flashes me a smile, lighting my world.
A few hours later, we are at the church and I am auditioning for choir.
“You have a perfect baritone, Mr Lord!” Mrs Gail beams the moment I finish singing. My old bestie is my biggest fan. She told me before I started that I am already part of the choir no matter what I sound like and no matter what others think.
“With you and Amari, we are going to win for sure!” Leah declares excitedly while the rest of the choir members cheer in agreement. I can’t help noticing that while everyone is excited, my wife is just staring at me. She even looks glued to the ground. I wheel myself to her. We both decided to keep the progress with my legs to ourselves for the time being, until I am stronger.
I raise my eyebrow at her. “That bad?”
“You…”
“Yes?” I press on. I know that I nailed that audition, but still want to hear what she thinks.
“Every key…every chord…”
My wife is so stunned, she can’t even construct a sentence. The choir members exchange mischievous looks when I pull her to sit on my lap.
“Every key and every chord was what, Mrs Lord?”
“Your baritone is perfect. You are the best vocalists I have ever heard,” my wife declares. I want to dance with joy, but I raise my eyebrows instead.
“Is it?” I ask, my lips curling into a smile. Being loved by this woman is so exhilarating.
She blushes and realises that everyone is now looking at us.
“Mr and Mrs Lord, please stop flirting with each other. You are distracting the choir.”
Amari is already flushed with embarrassment, trust Isaac to rub it in. I can’t help but laugh when she jumps off me.
Two weeks later, I walk into church with crutches and everyone goes wild. A full hour of the service is dedicated to praying and thanking God for getting me walking again. I am really touched by the love everyone is showing me.
A month later, I can walk with a walking stick. It is just my luck that I get to the elevator and meet James. He gives me an evil grin, and I swear I can feel the hatred emitting from him. I contemplate getting out, but I can’t let him control my life, so I press my floor destination and mind my own business.
I guess he made it out of the intensive care unit. I can also conclude that the evidence must have vanished as the captain expected for him not to be in prison for abducting Amari. I am walking out of the elevator when my stick goes flying on the ground and I follow behind it. I can feel something snap on my back as I hit the concrete floor.
- Writer
