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I nod but don’t say anything as the elevator coet me down the hall and into the condo, which has been totally reorganized

The dining room table, which we never really use apart frouys over and serve food buffet style, has been removed The couch and chairs have been shifted around to ht path from the front door to the hospital-style bed in the center of the living rooht beside it, and it’s positioned so I have a great view of the giant flat-screen TV

“We couldn’t get the bed down the hall unless I rented the smaller one, and I didn’t think you’d want to be craured this was a better option Once you have a bityou into your bedrooested this would be best”

“When did you have time to do this?” Almost every piece of furniture has been moved

“It took uys an afternoon It wasn’t that hard with three sets of hands, but Jeros seventy times to see orks best”

“You must have loved that”

“Majority rules came into play a lot” He squeezes my shoulder “You wanna lie down or stay in your chair?”

“Um, I think I need to use the bathroom”

“Okay, give et you sorted out” He rushes down the hall It’s good we have separate bathrooms

While I wait, I take in the reorganized space

This hospital-style bed looks a lot co in, but it also reminds me that I’m far from okay My favorite quilt decorates the bed The one et rid of rown them So for my sixteenth birthday, she had theot frooes with me almost everywhere

Despite the fact that I’ in on thirty, I still keep it onroo TV My favorite pillows are piled up on top of it, and a few of the htstand are on the table beside it

I’e of tears for what feels like the hundredth tilass casts, unable to e even the si breaths, reh this like I’ve gotten through everything else, one challenge at a time

Declan returns and wheelslearned exactly how to et s over top of the toilet with handrails on it—so I associate with the frail and elderly At the hospital I had a catheter for the first few days, but as soon as I couldto the bathroom—with the help of a nurse and often my sisters—the doctor removed it

I look at the toilet and then at Declan He claps once “You ready to do this?”

“As ready as I’uess” He coood arrip is solid, he slides both of his arms around my back and helps hoist me out of the wheelchair It’s aard at best And my ribs are ridiculously sore

Living together means we’re close, but we’ve never been particularly touchy, apart fro soccer practice

This is different, though I’ to the bathrooles warainst mine It’s not clinical like it ith the nurses Maybe because he’s my friend and there’s more body-to-body contact?

It takes soet roan, my body stiff and sore, partly fro in the same position for hours on end, and other than the limited physical therapy, there’s been

I’m seated, witharound before he finally blows out a breath “Uh, do you need help with the…” He motions to my lower half