A Little Piece Of Heaven
A Case of the Mondays Part 1
Chapter Twenty-Two Part I:
It’s taken a lifetime to lose my way –
A lifetime of yesterdays.
All the wasted time on my hands,
Turn to sand and fades in the wind.
I opened my eyes and fumbled around to find my phone. I knocked it on the floor. I sighed.
Crossing lines,
Small crimes…
Taking back what is mine.
I slid off the bed and picked it up. If I turn it off there’s a 99.9% chance that I’ll fall back asleep. I’m tired of staying in the house all day. I want to go to school. I need to go to school.
I’m fine in the fire.
I feed on the friction.
I’m right where I should be –
Don’t try and fix me.
Jace walked into the room, clad only in pajama pants. He was wincing because of the noise.
“Gel, turn it off.” He whined. I flipped it off.
“I need help showering.” I told him. He nodded. He helped me up and walked me back to his room. He helped me pull of my clothes and wrap my cast. I got into the shower.
“Do you need help?” He asked from outside the shower.
“I’m really hurting today. It hurts to raise my hands.” I told him.
“Alright give me a minute.”
“Okay.” I got my lady-parts clean and my legs and feet scrubbed. I washed my stomach. I washed my face and neck, and then waited for Jace. We’ve got the routine down on the bad days. Whenever it rains, it hurts even worse. I must’ve slept funny, because my ribs are killing me.
Jace hopped into the shower and took my loofah from me. He started washing my back and shoulders. He didn’t say anything just cleaned. He doesn’t make any jokes about my body or our lack of clothes and he keeps his eyes above anything he shouldn’t see. I afford him the same courtesy.
The worst thing Eric could ever do to me is hurt Jace. I don’t know what I would do without him. He’s my rock. He’s always there for me when I need him. He’s my bro.
“It would probably be a good idea for you to bring your medication to school, Gel.” He told me. I nodded as he washed my hair.
“I’m going to wear the sling Dr. Sullivan gave me, too. I don’t want to knock my arm on everything in the hallway.” I told him.
“That’s probably a good idea. Close your eyes. I need to rinse your hair.” He told me. I obliged. “What time is your appointment after school?” He asked me.
“It’s at four.” I told him.
“That gives us enough time to grab a quick bite before heading to the hospital.”
“We can wait for your mom.” I told him. He chuckled.
“You have to have at least a little something in your stomach for your medicine.”
“Yeah, yeah.”I grumbled. He conditioned my hair. We stood their quietly for a few minutes. He got out and grabbed a towel for me.
I covered up and grabbed another towel to dry myself off with. I moisturized while he showered. He took less time than I expected, that, or I lost track of time… which is something that’s been happening all the time, lately. It’s so easy to lose myself in my head.
I put on undergarments and shimmied my way into a pair of burnt orange jeggings. Jace helped me put on a magenta undershirt and a loose, off-white sweater. I slipped on some flats and gathered my school stuff together. I put my clutch into my school bag and jimmied the sling on.
“Shit, I’m already tired.” I told him. He chuckled. “It’s gonna be a long day.”
-.-
“Am I meeting you for lunch?” Jace asked me, walking me to class. I shook my head.
“Matt wanted to eat together. We need to talk.” I told him. He made a face. “His words, not mine.” I told him.
“He’s a good guy. It’ll go okay. You know I’m here, if you need me.” He told me. I nodded.
“I know, Mom. I’ll be okay in class. I’m still ahead in all of my course work, so I won’t need to carry any books. I have my pain pills if I need them. Now, go. You don’t wanna be late for government class.” I swatted his butt. He stuck out his tongue at me.
“I’ll remember that Summers.” He walked away. I sighed and walked into the classroom. I took my seat and tried to ignore the stares from my fellow classmates.
“Welcome back Miss Summers. I hope you’re feeling alright.” Mr. Davis smiled at me.
“I am – thank you. I hope I haven’t missed too much history.” I joked. He handed me some graded papers of mine. I’ve aced all of them.
“Good work.”
“Thank you. Do you have any extra credit projects available?” I asked him.
“Let me see what I can do. I’ll let you know tomorrow.” He assured me.
“Thank you.” I don’t want there to be any chance that I can’t get into university or a scholarship for it. I want to cover all of my bases.
Class didn’t drag as much as I expected it to. Mr. Davis in an engaging teacher, something this school doesn’t have a lot of. Class was over almost as quickly as it began. I grabbed my bag and headed to my next class, much slower than my normal pace.
“Angela! Wait up.” Someone called from behind me. I turned around and saw Brian. “Hey girl, what’s shakin’?” He grinned.
“Not much, just school. How ‘bout you?” I asked him. He shrugged.
“The same. Are you sure you’re up to being back? You still look kind of… rough.” He gestured to my arm.
“I’m okay, just need to remember not to be so clumsy. You know.” I joked. He nodded. “Well, I better go. I’ll see ya.”
I got to class and the rest of the morning blurred by. Halfway through Calculus I wanted to cry because the pain was so intense. I took my pain pills and waited for them to kick in. The bell startled me. I feel funny. I set off to the cafeteria. I found Matt without too much difficulty.
“Hey beautiful,” he smiled and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. I smiled.
“Hey,” I sang. “I just took my medicine. My ribs are killing me today.” I told him.
“Okay. Let’s get you some food.” He took my hand and we went through the lunch-line. I didn’t really pay attention to what I put on my lunch tray, but something was better than nothing at all. I grabbed a bottle of water and pushed my tray down the line and paid. Matt carried both trays back to our table.
We didn’t say a ton. I focused on eating my food and not painting my face with it. He just watched me while he ate.
“Do I have something on my face?” I asked him. He shook his head, smiling.
“You’re just adorable when you concentrate that hard on something.” He flirted. I rolled my eyes.
“Shut up.” I stuck my tongue out at him.
“So, I was wondering if you’d feel up to going on a date with me.”
“A diner date?” I asked, smiling.
“A real date.” He countered.
“When did you have in mind?” I asked him.
“How about tomorrow?”
“Sounds perfect. I’m going to the doctor again today. Hopefully he’ll have good news or give me some meds that don’t make me completely loopy.”
“Fractures take forever to heal.” He told me. I sighed.
“I know. It’s not my first and I doubt it’ll be my last.”
It’s taken a lifetime to lose my way –
A lifetime of yesterdays.
All the wasted time on my hands,
Turn to sand and fades in the wind.
I opened my eyes and fumbled around to find my phone. I knocked it on the floor. I sighed.
Crossing lines,
Small crimes…
Taking back what is mine.
I slid off the bed and picked it up. If I turn it off there’s a 99.9% chance that I’ll fall back asleep. I’m tired of staying in the house all day. I want to go to school. I need to go to school.
I’m fine in the fire.
I feed on the friction.
I’m right where I should be –
Don’t try and fix me.
Jace walked into the room, clad only in pajama pants. He was wincing because of the noise.
“Gel, turn it off.” He whined. I flipped it off.
“I need help showering.” I told him. He nodded. He helped me up and walked me back to his room. He helped me pull of my clothes and wrap my cast. I got into the shower.
“Do you need help?” He asked from outside the shower.
“I’m really hurting today. It hurts to raise my hands.” I told him.
“Alright give me a minute.”
“Okay.” I got my lady-parts clean and my legs and feet scrubbed. I washed my stomach. I washed my face and neck, and then waited for Jace. We’ve got the routine down on the bad days. Whenever it rains, it hurts even worse. I must’ve slept funny, because my ribs are killing me.
Jace hopped into the shower and took my loofah from me. He started washing my back and shoulders. He didn’t say anything just cleaned. He doesn’t make any jokes about my body or our lack of clothes and he keeps his eyes above anything he shouldn’t see. I afford him the same courtesy.
The worst thing Eric could ever do to me is hurt Jace. I don’t know what I would do without him. He’s my rock. He’s always there for me when I need him. He’s my bro.
“It would probably be a good idea for you to bring your medication to school, Gel.” He told me. I nodded as he washed my hair.
“I’m going to wear the sling Dr. Sullivan gave me, too. I don’t want to knock my arm on everything in the hallway.” I told him.
“That’s probably a good idea. Close your eyes. I need to rinse your hair.” He told me. I obliged. “What time is your appointment after school?” He asked me.
“It’s at four.” I told him.
“That gives us enough time to grab a quick bite before heading to the hospital.”
“We can wait for your mom.” I told him. He chuckled.
“You have to have at least a little something in your stomach for your medicine.”
“Yeah, yeah.”I grumbled. He conditioned my hair. We stood their quietly for a few minutes. He got out and grabbed a towel for me.
I covered up and grabbed another towel to dry myself off with. I moisturized while he showered. He took less time than I expected, that, or I lost track of time… which is something that’s been happening all the time, lately. It’s so easy to lose myself in my head.
I put on undergarments and shimmied my way into a pair of burnt orange jeggings. Jace helped me put on a magenta undershirt and a loose, off-white sweater. I slipped on some flats and gathered my school stuff together. I put my clutch into my school bag and jimmied the sling on.
“Shit, I’m already tired.” I told him. He chuckled. “It’s gonna be a long day.”
-.-
“Am I meeting you for lunch?” Jace asked me, walking me to class. I shook my head.
“Matt wanted to eat together. We need to talk.” I told him. He made a face. “His words, not mine.” I told him.
“He’s a good guy. It’ll go okay. You know I’m here, if you need me.” He told me. I nodded.
“I know, Mom. I’ll be okay in class. I’m still ahead in all of my course work, so I won’t need to carry any books. I have my pain pills if I need them. Now, go. You don’t wanna be late for government class.” I swatted his butt. He stuck out his tongue at me.
“I’ll remember that Summers.” He walked away. I sighed and walked into the classroom. I took my seat and tried to ignore the stares from my fellow classmates.
“Welcome back Miss Summers. I hope you’re feeling alright.” Mr. Davis smiled at me.
“I am – thank you. I hope I haven’t missed too much history.” I joked. He handed me some graded papers of mine. I’ve aced all of them.
“Good work.”
“Thank you. Do you have any extra credit projects available?” I asked him.
“Let me see what I can do. I’ll let you know tomorrow.” He assured me.
“Thank you.” I don’t want there to be any chance that I can’t get into university or a scholarship for it. I want to cover all of my bases.
Class didn’t drag as much as I expected it to. Mr. Davis in an engaging teacher, something this school doesn’t have a lot of. Class was over almost as quickly as it began. I grabbed my bag and headed to my next class, much slower than my normal pace.
“Angela! Wait up.” Someone called from behind me. I turned around and saw Brian. “Hey girl, what’s shakin’?” He grinned.
“Not much, just school. How ‘bout you?” I asked him. He shrugged.
“The same. Are you sure you’re up to being back? You still look kind of… rough.” He gestured to my arm.
“I’m okay, just need to remember not to be so clumsy. You know.” I joked. He nodded. “Well, I better go. I’ll see ya.”
I got to class and the rest of the morning blurred by. Halfway through Calculus I wanted to cry because the pain was so intense. I took my pain pills and waited for them to kick in. The bell startled me. I feel funny. I set off to the cafeteria. I found Matt without too much difficulty.
“Hey beautiful,” he smiled and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. I smiled.
“Hey,” I sang. “I just took my medicine. My ribs are killing me today.” I told him.
“Okay. Let’s get you some food.” He took my hand and we went through the lunch-line. I didn’t really pay attention to what I put on my lunch tray, but something was better than nothing at all. I grabbed a bottle of water and pushed my tray down the line and paid. Matt carried both trays back to our table.
We didn’t say a ton. I focused on eating my food and not painting my face with it. He just watched me while he ate.
“Do I have something on my face?” I asked him. He shook his head, smiling.
“You’re just adorable when you concentrate that hard on something.” He flirted. I rolled my eyes.
“Shut up.” I stuck my tongue out at him.
“So, I was wondering if you’d feel up to going on a date with me.”
“A diner date?” I asked, smiling.
“A real date.” He countered.
“When did you have in mind?” I asked him.
“How about tomorrow?”
“Sounds perfect. I’m going to the doctor again today. Hopefully he’ll have good news or give me some meds that don’t make me completely loopy.”
“Fractures take forever to heal.” He told me. I sighed.
“I know. It’s not my first and I doubt it’ll be my last.”
This is an amazing story. Some chapters were hard to read but I was hooked. Thank you for sharing it.
2/16/18