Adjusting to the New Life
Ben Charlotte's new life, was an eventual 180- degrees turn from his usual way of life. Having been an agile and active person, confining himself to a spot might be a new life he needed to adjust to.
While still at the hospital, the environment hid a full perception of the new reality. Finally returning home, where normal life needed to be welcomed or return, a diversion to an abnormal sort of life, ushered him into the new normal.
"You take a gradual, simple step forward. You need not to rush. Take it easy, dear."
Adeline guided Ben, as he walked some little distance from the bedroom, to the living room upstairs. He's been able to use his crutches.
"I feel much better. Initially, it was so painful taking each step forward. I might have to rest for 2-3 minutes, before taking a second step. The leg is healing gradually, I believe; Ben confirmed."
"Oh my gosh. You must have been through serious pains at that time. So, how were you coping?"
"Some of our ad-hoc officers were assigned to me during the day. The health workers were compassionate enough. They assisted me from time to time. Adequate care was facilitated as much as possible. I didn't lack in any way."
"That was a good one. Am happy about that. What could have been a painful, and rigorous experience, became a tussle-free journey for you."
"Frankly, their efforts lessened the burden."
They were now at the family living room upstairs. In the meantime, he needed to restrict his movement upstairs. Coming downstairs, to the main living room, would be a tedious exercise for him.
'You can take your seat here.' Adeline assisted him to sit up, in order to rest his back. Even though Adeline was not as tall as her husband, he could offer some assistance in a little way.
"I can't wait for the casting to be taken off this leg."
"Patience, Ben. That leg needs to heal up before you think of removing the casting. Do I even need to offer an opinion on this; absolutely no. You will have the orthopaedist word upon your visit, in a week's time."
A minute, please. Let me get the foods set on the dining.
"Adeline, please can I take my meal here? I can't stand up from here almost immediately. Let me catch some breath, please."
"No problem, Ben. As your lordship pleases. I quite understand. I could feel the pulse of your exhaustion, from the way you walked down here. You are not in this alone."
"Thank you, my love. Please, make it snappy. Am famished already."
'I will be right back.'
Adeline set the table at the middle of the living room, for her husband to have his delicious breakfast, that morning. She tried to give her husband a special treat, one that could drive away the thought of his current distress. There shouldn't be any cause for him to be weighed down by his present circumstance, she contemplated. Moreover, she was grateful the situation wasn't an irredeemable one.
"Yes, baby. There you are; the table is set." (She pushed the table slightly towards him).
'What do you have for me this morning', Ben inquired?
'It's one of your favourite food staples. Baked eggs, sausage, roasted tomato, plump bacon, and brown soda bread with coffee. Let the taste speak for itself.'
'Oh yummy. Am already salivating at its rich aroma.' (he smiled at his wife excitedly)
Let me quickly attend to Adorable.
Please, do. Is Celica not coming in today?
She should be on her way. She didn't say otherwise.
(The main door bell rang) 'That should be Celica', Ben considered.
'Most likely, let me check.'
Adorable was awake. Adeline hauled Adorable on her stroller towards her dad.
"Move her a bit closer to me", Ben requested.
"Dad, am here." Adeline said teasingly, speaking on behalf of Adorable.
Let me quickly check who is at the door.
No problem.
(Adeline opened the door) Hi, Pauline.
Hello, Adeline.
"What took you so long?"
"I was busy attending to your brother, and Adorable."
Is he back?
Yes, he is.
"Oh! I see. No wonder you never bothered to reach out to me for the past two days."
"He came in just yesterday, Pauline. You understand his present predicament."
What predicament is that?
"Let's go see him upstairs, Adeline suggested."
"Okay, no problem. You lead the way."
"No problem", Adeline shrugged, shook her head in bewilderment.
"I explained what happened to you, Pauline. Stop pretending as if you never knew your brother got injured."
"Are you serious? I need to see for myself first."
"Who were you arguing with. I thought Celica was around." Ben inquired as he tried standing up to peep.
"It's your sister."
Pauline?
"Yes, she's the one."
"So what was the argument all about?"
Hi, Ben. What! What is this? What have you done to yourself? How did this happen to you?
"How do you mean? Did my wife not explain I got injured on my last return at the inter-positional zone? You never bothered to do a video call to check my condition. You only called twice, which was least expected of you. It was very much unlike you. It registered another inkling of you on my mind."
(Pauline walked around) "Not calling you often wasn't an indication of lack of empathy from my side. I was deeply sorrowful, pitying you, and the old woman you left back at home. I was imagining what the emotions of your aged mother would seem like, by the time she gets to know. You were adamant to her opinion that emanated from the place of deep concern and motherly love. A foresight notion of what might occur along the path you desired to tread, stirred those concerns then. "
"Sustaining an injury could have happened anywhere, and at anytime. Emerging out of the trenches was when the injury occurred, not even at the onslaught of a combat or during a reprisal stage of an attack. I believe you should understand better, Pauline."
Yes, I do understand. I thought you would be the super hero whose name and autograph will sweep through the Guinness world record, for having break some notable records in the army?
"Am sorry to say, you are sounding unreasonable. Your views are becoming so irrational. You are addressing the issue based on prior sentiments, not from an objective point of view."
"Yes, I know you would never admit you were wrong in the first place, by deciding to embark on this your so called mission."
"Please, Pauline. Spare me all of these your ranting at this time. They are not needed in my kind of situation."
"I can't stop, Ben. I was actually awaiting your return. I never knew it would come so soon. When you were discouraged about embarking on this ill-fated journey you called military career, you turned deaf ears to everyone, including your mum."
"You can see my assertion was right?"
"Am glad I wasn't part of the appeal team then, because I would have laughed you to an unending scorn and taunted you non-stop. Who do you want to put this stress and burden of your mobility on now? Your wife who has just put to bed in less than a year?"
"Pauline, take it easy with him. Look at his condition and let's at least, bring him back on his feet."
"That's not in anybody's power. It's dependent on the severity of the injury."
"It was less severe. As you can see, he's getting better. We are trusting that he will be able to walk again, all by himself."