Walk with Me

Walk with Me

“Listen heart, I understand that you want to feel what you want to feel, but you have been way too irresponsible. But it's my fault. It's my fault for giving you the power. It's my fault for letting you do the thinking knowing damn well you don't have a brain.”

Kimberly is trying to talk herself out of turning her car around and returning to Robert. As liberating as it was to escape his emotional and psychological bondage, this was still the man she had been in a relationship with for the past six years. It has literally been five minutes since she walked out of the house, but it already feels like an eternity. Her heart is aching and her mind is racing. She's weighing her past against her future. Is it less painful to stay with an unfaithful man whom she knows, or go through the process of getting to know someone new who could possibly be unfaithful as well? Just as she has this thought, her phone rings. She looks down and sees that it's Robert.

“No!!!” she yells at the phone. “I'm not about to let you sucker me back in.”

She hits the ignore button but Robert is relentless. He is determined to coerce her into going back home. It takes three more unanswered calls before she finally concedes. She doesn't hesitate to express her displeasure with his persistence.

“What do you want, Robert?”

“Just to talk,” he says with desperation in his voice. “Can you please just come back home?”

“No! I'm done with your manipulation and deceit.”

“I'm done with my manipulation and deceit too, though. I can change. I can be a better man for you.”

“No, you need to be a better man for yourself. You need to change because it's the right thing to do. Not because of me.”

“Yes, that's what I meant,” he says crying. “I want to be a better man for me, and that in turn will make me a better man for you.”

Hearing Robert cry is beginning to tug at her heartstrings and she hates herself for it. She knows that she needs to terminate the phone call as quickly as possible, or risk slipping back into his trap.

“Goodbye Robert,” she says with tears beginning to form in her eyes. Never before had she uttered two words that hurt so much. The finality of it all is beginning to set in and she can no longer control her emotions. She hangs up the phone and begins sobbing uncontrollably. The tears are building up so quickly and abundantly that she can't seem to wipe them fast enough. Her vision is impaired and she can no longer see the solid yellow lines that separate her from oncoming traffic. Suddenly, she hears the sound of a horn that becomes louder as it gets closer. She wipes her tears just in time to see the headlights of a truck as it smashes into her car.

One year later…

Thursday, October 17^th, 2017 9:37 a.m.

Dear Journal, 

As I sit here, in physical therapy, on the one-year anniversary of the day I almost lost my life, I can't help but feel grateful. I survived a horrific car accident which probably should have taken my life. I came face to face with death, and became aware of my own mortality. And even though I'm in physical therapy, literally learning how to walk again, I have developed a whole new appreciation for life. Not being able to walk has forced me to just sit and watch. I watch all of the things I used to take for granted. The birds. The trees. The clouds. They are all here for a purpose. And so am I. I don't know yet what my purpose is, but I refuse to approach my purpose sitting down. I will walk again. And when I do, I will walk purposefully.

Kimberly closes her journal book and looks up at Crystal, her physical therapist, who is in tears. She has made an entry every day for the past seven months. Prior to each physical therapy session, she reads her journal entry for that day to Crystal.

“I'm not supposed to be crying at work Ms. Allen,” Crystal says forcing a slight laugh through her cry. “That was beautiful. Your story is so inspiring to me…Ok, I need a moment to get myself together so we can continue getting you back on track towards walking again. I'm going to run to the bathroom. I'll be right back.”

Crystal quickly makes her way to the bathroom. Suddenly, Kimberly hears a deep voice from behind that startles her.

“Is that Ms. Allen, or Mrs. Allen?”

She turns around and sees a man who appears to be tall and athletic in a wheelchair. She notices that his legs are almost too long for the chair.

“It's Ms. Allen,” she says smiling. “But you can call me Kimberly.”

“Nice to meet you, Kimberly. My name is Aaron.”

“Nice to meet you as well Aaron.”

Aaron looks around as if he wants to make sure no one is near before he continues speaking.

“Look, this is my first time here, and I honestly don't know how long I will even rehab at this facility, but I just wanted to say that listening to you read your journal really moved me.”

“Thank you,” she replies. “It makes me feel good to know that I'm able to reach people. But why don't you know if you will continue rehabbing here?”

Aaron looks around once more.

“I have history with your therapist. And it didn't end well.”

“What did you do to her?” Kimberly asks with a playful bluntness.

“What makes you think it was me?” he asks laughing. “How do you know she didn't break my heart?”

“Well regardless of who hurt whom, you're going to have to tell me another time. She's on her way back.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” he says maneuvering his wheelchair away from her. “Nice meeting you. I'll see you around.”

As Crystal approaches, Kimberly can tell that she is unhappy with the exchange between her and Aaron.

“Watch him,” Crystal says. “He could charm the gown off a nun. Then he will lead that nun to believe she is the only nun in his life, only to find out later that he was sleeping with the whole damn convent.”

“Hmm,” Kimberly says as if she's recalling a dark moment from her past.

“Well thank you for letting me know. Don't get me wrong, there was no interest prior to you telling me that. But it’s just good information to have. I don't have time nor the emotional space for another womanizer in my life.”

The remainder of the session is awkward for Kimberly. She can't help but think of how a manipulative womanizer is the reason she is in physical therapy learning how to walk again. After her session was over, she was so preoccupied with her thoughts that didn't realize Aaron was speaking to her. He too, had just completed his session and was on his way out.

“Kimberly!”

The sound of her name snaps her out of her reverie.

“Yes?” she says responding to hearing her name rather than who said it. She immediately becomes emotionally defensive once she realizes who it is.

“Yes, Aaron? How can I help you?”

“I didn't realize you were in a wheelchair too.”

“How did you miss that?” she says smirking at him.

“Well, when I met you, you were sitting in a regular chair.”

“Yeah well Crystal was helping me learn to walk again.”

Aaron is aware that she's being short with him.

“Crystal told you about us, didn't she?”

“What makes you think that?” Kimberly snaps back at him.

“I can tell by the way you're speaking to me. You're a completely different person from the one I met earlier.”

“Ok, I'm just going to be completely honest with you Aaron. I was on the phone breaking up with my womanizing ex when I got in the accident that led to me not being able to walk. And I just can't take another womanizer in my life. I…”

“Well, you're in luck, “he says cutting her off. “I'm not a womanizer. I mean, at one point I was. But not anymore. I'm just at a different place in my life right now. I regret how I treated…look, I'd rather not have this conversation in the lobby of the office where my ex works. There's a coffee shop next door. If its ok with you…”

“No! It's not ok with me. I don't need you trying to woo me over coffee.”

“I promise you that's not my intent,” he says sincerely. Like I said, I'm at a much different point in my life. I've lost everything. Even some of the closest people to me. Right now, I'm not looking for a relationship, or even someone to date. I'm just looking for a friend. Someone who can be there as I'm learning to walk again. Then to walk with me once I'm able to. And who better than someone who is in my shoes?”

For a moment Kimberly has a flashback of how Robert used to hurt her, then charm his way back into her good graces. But this was different. This man had a life-altering incident that changed him. Suddenly, it dawns on her that she doesn't even know what that life-altering incident is, and she becomes slightly intrigued.

“Ok. We can have coffee. But that's it.”

“Thank you,” Aaron responds feeling relieved. Ok, follow me.”

He turns around and heads out the door as she follows closely behind him. It’s a very short trip to the coffee shop. So short that it didn't leave time for them to converse before arriving. When the waitress sees them enter the shop she immediately motions them towards a table. Then she removes two of the chairs.

“How are you folks doing today?” she says in a pleasant tone.

“We're doing well,” Kimberly responds. I'll take a cup of coffee please.”

“Sure thing honey. And for you sir?”

“I'll take the same. Thank you,” Aaron replies.

“Ok, I'll be right back with your coffee.”

As soon as the waitress walks off Kimberly begins her line of questioning. She doesn't want to waste time beating around the bush.

“So, what happened? How did you end up in the wheelchair?”

“Well, I was in a relationship at the time, but I was at another woman's house. My girlfriend was calling me back to back, but of course I was ignoring her. I eventually checked my text messages and there were about fourteen sitting in my inbox. All from her. Another woman that I was seeing had called her and said that she was pregnant with my child. Well, I told the woman I was currently with that I had to leave. I rushed out of there, hopped on my motorcycle, and quickly sped away. On my way home it began to rain and I ended up losing control of the bike. When I woke up my girlfriend was next to my hospital bed. She looked down at me and asked if I could understand her. I shook my head yes. She then told me that the other woman was lying about being pregnant, and that she only said it because she was jealous. Then she turned around and walked out of the hospital room. And I never saw her again.”

“Wow,” Kimberly responds in shock. “That was kind of heartless. But I can't say that I blame her. So, what made you such a womanizer?”

“Honestly, it started in high school. I played football, basketball, and baseball. I was a jock and girls showed me a lot of attention. It went to my head. Then I went to college and was a star athlete there. That's when I really became out of control. Eventually, I went overseas to play pro basketball and was treated like a celebrity. My womanizing not only affected the women I was dealing with, but also my relationships with my family and friends. I was vain. I was conceited. I thought I was untouchable. Anything that I wanted, I got it. I was on top of the world. But the thing about being on top of the world is it’s a long fall. And when you step on enough people on your way to the top, nobody will be there for you when you fall.”

The waitress returns with their coffee but Kimberly is focused. She has more questions for Aaron.

“While I don't approve of your lifestyle…well, former lifestyle, I do appreciate your honesty and openness. But I'm curious about something. The first thing you asked me was if I was married.”

“No, I asked if you were Ms. or Mrs.”

“Semantics,” Kimberly says giving him a no-nonsense look.

“Ok, ok,” Aaron says conceding. “That was my way of finding out if you were married.”

“Why did you want to know if I was married?”

“I guess old habits die hard. For so many years I had to find out if a woman was married before pursuing her.”

“So, you've never been with a married woman? Kimberly skeptically asks.”

“I didn't say that. It just changed my pursuit if she was married”

“I see,” Kimberly says, clearly thinking.

 Aaron can tell that her wheels are spinning. He has his own line of questioning but she continues before he gets a chance.

“So how hard has it been for your old habits to die?”

            Aaron wants to move on from the topic of his philandering.

            “Not nearly as hard as it has been to learn to walk again. This has been the most humbling experience of my life. But it has also changed my whole perspective on life. That's why your journal touched me so much. I related to everything you said. I guess that is the true answer to your question. That is why I wanted to know if you were married. I had no idea who this woman was, but I knew that I wanted to get to know her. And for the first time in my life there were no sexual motives. I just wanted her to walk with me.”

            Kimberly is touched by his words. She can feel her defenses beginning to lower. Her heart is opening in a way she never believed it would again. And for a moment, she wondered if there could be more between them after they both learned to walk.

            “So, what exactly do you want from me, Aaron? I'm fragile. I can't take much more pain.”

            “Fragility isn't what I heard as you read your journal. I heard strength. I heard determination. That's what I want from you. Someone who understands what I'm going through to be my strength when I'm weak. To be my determination when things become a little too hard. And I can do the same for you…I'll tell you what. I'm going to leave my number with you. If you feel it in your heart to call me, then please do. But if not, no hard feelings. Either way, it has been amazing meeting you.”

            Kimberly smiles as she watches him write his number on a napkin. Eventually her smile turns into a laugh.

            “What's so funny,” Aaron asks confused.

            “Old habits die hard. How many times have you written your number on a napkin in a club and given it to a woman?”

            “I guess I need to kill these old habits,” he says laughing with her. “Maybe you can help me with that also.”

            “I guess we'll find out, IF I call,” she says reducing her laugh to a flirtatious smile.

            “Well I'm going to get out of here. I'll be patiently and anxiously awaiting your call.”

            “You're leaving?” Kimberly asks perplexed. “You didn’t even touch your coffee.”

            “I don't even like coffee,” he responds as he pulls out enough money to cover both cups and a hefty tip.

            “Oh, so the coffee thing was just your ploy to get me over here.”

            “Old habits Ms. Allen. Old habits.”

            They both share a laugh as he makes his way to the door. Kimberly sits there thinking about everything that just transpired. For the first time in a long time a man has put joy in her heart. She doesn't even realize that she's still smiling until the waitress returns to her table.

            “Well somebody is certainly love struck.”

            Startled, Kimberly snaps out of her daydream.

            “Love struck? No. More so curious and intrigued.”

            “Well I watched the way you two looked at each other. It may not be love now, but one day.”

            Suddenly their conversation is interrupted by the sound of screeching tires and screams. They both look towards the window. The waitress runs to the front door to see what happened.

            “Oh my God,” she yells at Kimberly. “It's your friend. He was hit by a car.”